Chelsea secured a record fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title on Saturday, with a 3-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Reading. Manager Emma Hayes, who has been with the club since 2012, celebrated her sixth title in eight years, and emotions were high as glory was secured. Manchester United were still in the hunt on the final day of the season but their 1-0 win at Liverpool was in vain as Chelsea picked up the points they needed.
Hayes was overwhelmed with emotion and told Sky Sports: ‘What an unbelievable team I’ve got, lucky me. It was really emotional at the end of the game but I was man-marked by the cameraman so I didn’t get the chance to let loose with a few tears. For us it’s not just about building a team to compete, it’s about growing – and looking at a wall of six thousand fans today gave me so much joy. Some of the players have gone through really tough times with not playing. I have to dispel this misnomer that players aren’t happy when they don’t play – they have the ability to look after themselves and games start coming around and on days like this they know it’s absolutely worth it. We are family. These people are as close to me as my family. My entire staff deserve credit and the day as much as anyone.’
Sam Kerr, who scored a brace in the match, said that winning the title does not get any easier. ‘I think they [title wins] get better each year. They definitely get harder,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘It makes it so much more sweeter when it is so tight at the top. It’s my fourth but it is some people’s first, so we’ll all celebrate it like it’s the first.’
Emma Hayes has won six Women’s Super League titles with Chelsea since joining in 2012, and her emotions were high as glory was secured on Saturday with a 3-0 win over bottom-of-the-table Reading. Manchester United were still in the hunt on the final day of the season but their 1-0 win at Liverpool was in vain as Chelsea picked up the points they needed.
Hayes was overwhelmed with emotion and told Sky Sports: ‘What an unbelievable team I’ve got, lucky me. It was really emotional at the end of the game but I was man-marked by the cameraman so I didn’t get the chance to let loose with a few tears. For us it’s not just about building a team to compete, it’s about growing – and looking at a wall of six thousand fans today gave me so much joy. Some of the players have gone through really tough times with not playing. I have to dispel this misnomer that players aren’t happy when they don’t play – they have the ability to look after themselves and games start coming around and on days like this they know it’s absolutely worth it. We are family. These people are as close to me as my family. My entire staff deserve credit and the day as much as anyone.’
Sam Kerr, who scored a brace in the match, said that winning the title does not get any easier. ‘I think they [title wins] get better each year. They definitely get harder,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘It makes it so much more sweeter when it is so tight at the top. It’s my fourth but it is some people’s first, so we’ll all celebrate it like it’s the first.’ On her own future, Hayes added: ‘Naturally every manager is depleted at end of season, I’m knackered, I’m going away, I’m going to chill out and I’m going to be a mum… and I’ve showed you the art of how to avoid a question!’