The delayed start to our 2022/23 WSL campaign will come away at Prenton Park on Sunday, with kick-off at 5pm, after last weekend’s games were postponed due to the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Ahead of the first match of the season, Hayes spoke about the five new internationals who have arrived at Cobham since last term – Kadeisha Buchanan, Jelena Cankovic, Eve Perisset, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Katerina Svitkova – providing an update on their progress before their potential debuts against Liverpool.

‘It’s nice always to see top players coming into our league and every single one of them has settled,’ said Hayes. ‘Some don’t speak English as their first language – Eve in particular, I think she will take a little bit longer, she’s learning the language.

‘Katerina played at West Ham and settled really well. Kadeisha, English is her first language, that makes that easier. Jelena has only been really with the team a couple of weeks but she’s a firecracker, she really is. And Johanna, again an English speaker who has adapted really well.

‘It takes new signings a bit of time so for me we’ve been able to maintain the vast majority of our squad and that for me is always where we build the main foundation for our team.’

The Blues boss also highlighted Buchanan as one player she is especially excited to see lining up in her team, believing she can fulfil her potential with the club to become one of the best in the world.

‘She’s a winner, she really is. She’s someone who’s been performing at a high level for a long time for both club and country. Last year in particular she really kicked on and progressed.

‘But she is coming to Chelsea because she wants the challenge and I’m sure this will be an environment that will challenge her to continue with those consistencies and those habits to become one of the absolute best. She’s slotted in really well. She’s a really good character, a funny girl.’

However, she also explained that in addition to adding quality to her squad, it was important to bolster the numbers as well, going into a long season that is likely to test the depth of her team.

‘It’s not like a European Championship where you’ve got maybe six games,’ Hayes added. ‘Those players have got to play 44 games minimum. This is a long year, you need the squad depth to be able to do that, you can’t have the same team week in, week out.

‘So we need it. Everybody strengthened and I think that for us we got what was needed. Everybody always wants something more but I’m really happy with our group.’

One of those fellow WSL sides who strengthened considerably going into the 2022/23 season are Sunday’s opening opponents Liverpool, who have ex-Chelsea manager Matt Beard in the dugout and count former Blues Gilly Flaherty and Niamh Fahey among their squad, in addition to Charlotte Wardlaw on loan.

Given their strength, Hayes says she expects them to be instantly competitive on their return to the top flight, as well as providing her personally with a walk down memory lane.

‘Matt’s an experienced manager who I think has built a very solid squad going into the season. It’s great to see that they’re back up in the top division, I’m just looking forward to playing them on Sunday. I love going back to Liverpool. I studied up there so it’s great, I get to see friends.

‘I think they’ll be more than fine. They’ve got an experienced manager who knows the league. You can see with the players he’s brought in he knows what it takes at this level. I think Liverpool will not struggle, they will be very competitive this year.’

The Chelsea Women head coach concluded by discussing her aim for the coming campaign after claiming the WSL title in our last three seasons, but she insists she keeps her sights on more immediate goals, just trying to improve year on year and week by week.

‘I just want to get better,’ explained Hayes. ‘I’m not focused on winning, I just want to get better. I want to make sure training is top-class tomorrow, I want to make sure the starters I select perform at the levels we demand in this environment.’