Emma Hayes, the manager of Chelsea, asserts that her main focus is on winning, as she secures the team’s fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title.
Emma Hayes, the highly esteemed manager of Chelsea, bid an emotional farewell to the club after securing her fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title. Hayes will soon be departing for the United States to take charge of the US women’s national team, following a remarkable period of success with Chelsea.
During her tenure, Hayes has amassed an impressive collection of seven WSL titles, five FA Cups, and two League Cups. In her final game, a resounding 6-0 victory over Manchester United, her team clinched the title, narrowly edging out rivals Manchester City.
Regarded by many as the greatest manager in WSL history, Hayes described this title as her most challenging yet. Speaking at Old Trafford, she expressed her delight at the team’s performance, highlighting the importance of emotional maturity in such a grand stadium.
While acknowledging the difficulty of achieving five consecutive titles, Hayes emphasized that her legacy lies in her ability to build a winning team for the future. Reflecting on her time at Chelsea, she fondly recalled her first FA Cup final, although her memories of the occasion remain somewhat hazy.
Hayes also reflected on the impact she has made on women’s football, defying the doubters who claimed that girls couldn’t play and stadiums couldn’t be filled. She expressed her pride in not only filling stadiums but doing so consistently week after week.
Chelsea captain Millie Bright echoed the sentiments of her manager, expressing her delight at claiming the title. She emphasized the team’s “monster mentality” and their ability to prove their doubters wrong season after season. Bright also praised Hayes for her leadership and the emotional journey she has experienced this season.
Overall, it was a bittersweet farewell for Emma Hayes as she leaves Chelsea on a high note, having left an indelible mark on the club and women’s football as a whole.