She is clear however that the latest one, sealed on Sunday afternoon with a convincing 5-0 win over Reading at Kingsmeadow, is the best. It is also another trophy in the bag in the quest for the Quadruple, with the Conti Cup already won, Chelsea still in the Women’s FA Cup, and a Champions League final to follow on Sunday.‘I haven’t been able to talk about the Champions League final because we had to win the league and coming into the last game knowing it is in your hands is the only place you want to be,’ said Hayes in the aftermath of the latest glory.

‘I wouldn’t want to be in another team’s dressing room hoping someone slips up, that is why we are the dominant side all season. We lost one game, I am glad we lost that game, you are never too good to lose and it keeps you on the edge of performance all the time. My team are showing many sides again and this was another brilliant result. There is great strength in depth and this no doubt is my favourite title.‘In some people’s eyes we didn’t really win it last season,’ she added. ‘We were given it on a points-per-game scenario so this is validation of that, that we are the champions, and the players really wanted to demonstrate that.‘Teams have invested, some heavily, so it was not like Chelsea have spent all the money and the rest haven’t. There were four teams who could have been in with a shout of the title at one point or another so this is the hardest one, and the fact it has gone to the last day demonstrates that.’

As well as the best title and the hardest to win, Hayes confirmed it has been achieved with the best squad she has had, as it is one that can now compete in Europe as well as domestically, although that in itself presents challenges.‘I have had to manage Covid and a dressing room of people who have not been home in more than a year, that has been hard to keep them going when they are homesick or they are struggling, so that has tested me on another level,’ Hayes explained.‘Then the second thing is people think having strength in depth is an advantage but you try to manage them and you will see how challenging it is day in day out to keep top players on the bench.‘It is really hard and I have never had strength in depth like that. I accept I cannot make them all happy. My job is this,’ she added, pointing at a league winner’s medal, ‘and credit to the players for applying themselves, even if they didn’t always play. That is the hardest thing to do in football.‘I always say to them that when they are grey and old it is these things they will talk about. Of course the shared experience and the friendships, but the winning – we don’t tire of it.‘For all my players, I am not sorry for what I put you through this season, I am happy because to put this in your cabinet is another reason why Chelsea are the best team in the country, and I am just grateful to be given the opportunity to lead them.’

The boss also spoke of the winning culture at Chelsea and how the support she receives within goes far deeper than financial backing, with plenty of emotional support and structure across many areas of the operation, and she revealed her young son had asked her on the morning of the match if she would bring a medal home that day.‘Harry boy, Mummy is bringing this home for you,’ she was able to confirm. ‘He will wear that all day tomorrow, I just hope he doesn’t throw it in the bin!’Importantly, Hayes dedicated the Barclays FA Women’s Super League title 2020/21 to all the Chelsea fans who have been denied the opportunity to see her outstanding team in action in person for so long.‘Football without fans is just not the same, that is why I dedicate this to them.’