As the dust settles on a derby defeat in the weekend's cup final, and with the knowledge that a quadruple is no longer viable for Chelsea Women, Emma Hayes has emphasised the need to understand that the players are dealing with special demands by being serial challengers for trophies.
The Blues naturally would not have it any other way than to be in as many competitions as possible, for as long as possible, and have proved capable of delivering multiple cups a season over a prolonged period.
Indeed, Emma Hayes’s team followed up a similar League Cup final defeat to Arsenal last season by capturing the Women's Super League and FA Cup Double. That was preceeded by the same trophies a year earlier and a treble before that.
‘We’ve got so much to play for, this wasn't our only competition,’ Hayes began as she put Sunday's defeat by the north Londoners into context.
‘Our schedule is gruelling but this is the challenge you have in our situation. Man City [Chelsea’s closet rivals in the league title race] have their next game on 21 April and have four games left. We can have up to 10 games. To compete for everything means that you are vulnerable in many ways.’
Hayes believes the exertions of trying to conquer three knockout competitions while also competing in the title race has already taken a toll on her team, meaning she is reluctant to be too critical of yesterday's defeat.
‘We have to do it again and again and again and again, for every competition,’ she emphasised
‘You do it every season. We have been in nine out of 10 cup finals in a period of time.
‘The last two [League Cup finals] we didn’t show up. I don’t think that was the challenge in the team on Sunday. It was a counter-attacking team, both teams dropped off and played a bit of counter-attack, which made it a dull game.
‘But I am not disappointed with the players. They are giving absolutely everything even though that was physically quite a taxing 120 minutes against Arsenal.’
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