Sjoeke Nusken: Emma Hayes, the Chelsea manager, praises a versatile player for their impressive performance in scoring twice in the UEFA Champions League match against Ajax.

“We are not going to hide nothing,” proclaimed Tottenham Hotspur manager Mauricio Pochettino as he defended his team’s “big squad” following a chorus of boos from the fans. The Argentine coach was adamant that his players have the quality and depth to compete at the highest level.

In a thrilling UEFA Champions League quarter-final clash, Chelsea emerged victorious with a resounding 3-0 win over Ajax. Manager Emma Hayes was full of praise for her star player Sjoeke Nusken, who delivered an outstanding performance. The German international scored two goals, one on either side of half-time, while Lauren James opened the scoring early on.

With such a commanding advantage, Chelsea now hold the upper hand going into the second leg at Stamford Bridge on March 27. Hayes expressed her delight with her team’s display, highlighting their experience, composure, and discipline as the key factors that set them apart from their opponents.

Nusken, in particular, caught the manager’s eye with her versatility and consistent performances. Normally a midfielder, she recently filled in as a centre-back in a Women’s Super League game and was given the opportunity to play upfront in this fixture. The 23-year-old repaid the faith shown in her by scoring four goals in the last five days, including a goal against Arsenal on Friday.

Hayes couldn’t help but praise Nusken’s desire, positioning, and quality, especially in her contribution to the third goal. She even jokingly suggested that she might test Nusken’s skills as a goalkeeper in the next game, confident that she would excel in any position on the field.

The winner of this tie will face either SK Brann or Barcelona in the semi-finals, with the first leg scheduled for tomorrow. Chelsea, aiming to secure their first-ever Champions League title, see success in this competition as the perfect farewell gift for manager Emma Hayes. She will be leaving the club at the end of the season to take charge of the United States’ women’s team. The team’s previous attempts at glory were thwarted by Barcelona, losing in the semi-finals last year and the final in the 2020/21 season.