The Blues just missed out on a spot in the final following a loss to Lyon on penalties following a 2-2 draw on Wednesday evening. However, Hayes’ team were determined to end the US tour on a high, beating hosts Portland Thorns in a Saturday-night showdown.

Although it was evenly contested throughout, Hayes reflected on the win, commenting: ‘It was a very different game to the match versus Lyon, two teams with very different styles.

‘I thought when we dominated the ball in the first part of the pitch, we didn’t create enough chances, didn’t have enough bodies in the box, didn’t have enough touches in the box.

‘I thought maybe it was a fair scoreline at half-time, but the second half I thought when we got on top of the game, the goal came and we dominated for another period after, and then I think Portland making their three changes made it a transition game. So it just went from back to front and they’ve got so much speed that it makes it a game.

‘But overall, I’m really pleased, eight, nine days in pre-season with the whole group. I think for us to come here at this stage to hold on 1-0, we made huge progress on this tour.’

The Blues boss feels good heading into the start of the season with three friendly fixtures under their belt. ‘I'm really happy, I think we’ve got depth we haven’t had before.

‘I still think we’re trying to figure a couple of things out and how we improve our overall play, but I think we are moving in the direction that the whole team wants to and I think in general our build-up play has been better. I think we’ve been patient in our defending, and I think everyone’s really excited for the season ahead.’

The Blues were at a very different place in their season from Portland, who are midway through their campaign, and Hayes was pleased with the team’s fitness levels in comparison.

‘I thought we did really well, I think they’re at the top end of their season and physically in great shape. We didn’t play as well as we did on Wednesday but I thought we had an opponent that was a little bit further than the other day, so we have to be patient and ultimately to come here at pre-season and win I think is a fantastic result.’

The US tour has also provided opportunity for our four new signings to train together with the full squad for the first time this summer and Hayes touched on Kadeisha Buchanan’s stand-out performance defending against Sophia Smith in the second-half.

‘An incredible player, what an incredible player! I thought she was exceptional. I think she is a world-class player and today I think she showed everybody why. With the right work she will become the best defender in the world.

‘We are in pre-season, we have to bed in new players in, we have to bed our ideas together. Our job is to be prepared for the season, so we’ve treated this very much as part of that preparation.’

Hayes is celebrating 10 years with the club this season and shared how she continues to keep both herself and the team motivated through these evolving times.

‘Everybody in our environment knows that evolution is an important part of what we do. I think this year I don’t have an issue with feeling hungry to win, neither do the players. That’s second nature to us and the type of people we are.

‘I’m interested in progression tactically and I think our tactical principles are clear and I think our team are really adapting to them and the team are enjoying them. I believe that you have to be flexible in structures, but you have to be clear on the roles.

‘I think we’ve defined them well in pre-season and I think we’ve got the ability to play the game that we want to in the way that we want to probably integrating parts of our games over the years and this year. I think I need another layer of tactical clarity that always excites me as they are probably the things I love the most about the job.’

Next up the Blues will play their final friendly of pre-season at Kingsmeadow against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday 28 August. Tickets are available to be purchased here.

Our first Women’s Super League match against West Ham will be staged at Stamford Bridge and tickets are now on sale for what will be a fantastic celebration of 30 years of Chelsea Women and 10 years of the Emma Hayes' era. Tickets are available here.