Chelsea Women are one victory away from winning the Barclay’s FA Women’s Super League, but Emma Hayes insists her side will not be complacent when the Blues come up against Reading on Sunday.
Hayes’ side go into the final day of the season in pole position for the league title and securing three points against The Royals will see Chelsea crowned champions.
It will be a farewell game for former Chelsea player Fara Williams and while Hayes expects a stern test, the Blues boss says her players know they are facing dangerous opponents in Reading at Kingsmeadow on Sunday afternoon.
‘They are a good team,’ said Hayes. ‘Every single player is going to run around that pitch for Fara (Williams) on Sunday.
‘We’ve had some tough games against them over the years, so we know that we have to be at our best. I tend not to look at things as what disappointments might come out of Sunday and instead focus on everything that is within our control.
‘If we do those things, I’m sure we will impose ourselves on them. I don’t have a complacent dressing room thank goodness because when you do you underestimate opponents.
‘I know every single player in this building will be talking about the threats they pose to us on Sunday.’
Should Chelsea secure three points on Sunday, we will become the first team since 2014 to retain the WSL title and Hayes highlighted the huge role played by Beth England in our 2019/20 double-winning season, while also saying that she believes the Blues striker could again have a major hand in helping Chelsea achieve more success in the final stages of our current campaign.
She said: ‘Experience is probably the big thing and strength in depth. You think of Beth England, she has been a crucial player for us. She’s had some setbacks in the early part of the season and then she had concussion. How many squads are able to then do what they’ve done with their PFA Player of the Year, who, like I said, has had a challenging season.
‘That’s testament to the squad but I’ve actually just had this conversation with Beth, I genuinely believe we wouldn’t have won the double last year without Beth.
‘Beth was the single-defining reason why we did, and I know in this final part of the season she could have a huge role to play in pushing the team over the line.’
The club made history this week by becoming the first team to have both our men’s and women’s sides reach the final of the Champions League in the same season and Hayes touched on the ‘one club’ mentality that has been instilled here at Chelsea.
‘I’ve been here 10 years and I know the values that we have felt across the club. My phone after Sunday was inundated with messages from across the club. These aren’t people I don’t know, I know the CEO very well, I know the chairman very well, I know Marina (Granovskaia) very well. I know Neil Bath, Petr Cech.
‘It’s one club, it really is, it’s just the DNA of this place. It breeds winning and the pressure to win here is immense but I’ve always said, the badge, some can wear it, some can’t and those that shine in it, they know it’s the most special club in the world.
‘I think of its diversity and its togetherness as a whole club. I know I say that when I’m in the final but it’s not a surprise to me that both clubs are in the final given the progression that has been made over the years and most importantly, a family-run feel that’s here.’
Sunday’s clash with Reading kicks-off at 2.30pm and will be available to watch live on BT Sport.