Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Emma Hayes "excited" and "relaxed" ahead of Champions League final

sportsmole.co.uk, 15 May 2021, 16:12
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes described herself as excited and relaxed on the eve of a Women's Champions League final she vowed would see the Blues "give it everything we've got".

First-time finalists Chelsea meet Barcelona in Sunday's showdown at Gamla Ullevi in Gothenburg.

They are the second English club to reach the final, 14 years on from Arsenal winning the competition with Hayes as assistant boss.

The 44-year-old, Chelsea manager since 2012, told a press conference on Saturday: "One thing you gain in experience is wisdom and with wisdom comes a better understanding of how to manage the biggest moments.

"When I say to everybody this is just another game for us, that's because I treat every game like the Champions League final. So for me it's no different.

"There may be more media here, there may be more watching eyes this week. But the realities are this is a game we love to play, it's a team that loves to be together and we love to be challenged by the biggest moments, and there's no bigger opportunity than to play Barcelona in what I think will be the most-watched women's game at least of this year.

"I'm just excited for it. I feel relaxed about the game, because I know of the qualities in the dressing room."

Hayes - whose side are bidding for the third trophy of a possible quadruple, something the 2007 Arsenal side achieved - described her players as "amazing women that are inspiring generations", and said: "The dream for me is about what I've always wanted for women's football.

"Being in this final after so many years with an English team not participating, I think it was about time, and I'm just delighted that we got the opportunity to do that."

She added: "I think it (Chelsea winning the match) would do a lot for the game in general. If we talk about landmark moments...you need these big situations to continue to build upon the foundations that are already in place around women's football.

"I know everybody inside that dressing room, staff and players alike, we will give it everything we've got to make sure we're on the winning side tomorrow."

Hayes said she felt "the best two teams in Europe are in the final" and "it will make a wonderful spectacle for the fans at home".

It is set to be a particularly big occasion for Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson, a Sweden international.

And the defender said: "It kind of feels surreal that we're going to play here. I've played at this stadium so many times for my country. But I'm really happy and really proud of us that we've got this far, and I can't wait for the game tomorrow, which is going to be a big challenge of course, Barcelona is a great team.

"It would mean so much (to win). We haven't come this far not to give everything we can and do everything we can to lift the trophy."

Hayes was asked if Thomas Tuchel, manager of Chelsea's men's team, had been in touch and she said: "Everyone's been in touch with us, that's how Chelsea is. Everyone's wishing each other well."

Top News

16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk French giants Lille have reportedly rejected an offer from an unnamed Premier League club for the services of 18-year-old defender Leny Yoro. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Napoli star Khvicha Kvaratskhelia will headline the Georgia side in the country's first-ever match in the finals of a major tournament on Tuesday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Turkey head coach Vincenzo Montella is expected to name Juventus' 19-year-old attacker Kenan Yildiz in his starting XI for Tuesday's Euro 2024 opener against Georgia. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Group F at Euro 2024 will get underway on Tuesday evening in Dortmund, with Turkey and Georgia locking horns for what is likely to be a very important match in the section. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk England captain Harry Kane believes that the Three Lions' squad for Euro 2024 may be the "best" that his nation have ever had. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Juventus have reportedly moved into pole position to sign Manchester United attacker Jadon Sancho, with the Old Lady cooling their interest in his teammate Mason Greenwood. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will reportedly have to come up with an offer of €50m (£42m) if they wish to sign Bayern Munich centre-back Matthijs de Ligt during this summer's transfer window. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France have received another timely injury boost before the start of their Euro 2024 campaign, as one of their fundamental cogs has returned to full training following injury. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Austrian youngster Oghenetejiri Adejenughure to discuss a move to Old Trafford this summer. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich marksman Harry Kane is poised to break a handful of England records when the Three Lions tackle Serbia in Sunday's Euro 2024 Group C opener at the Veltins-Arena. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Even before its first weekend of action is complete, the 17th European Championship has delivered a dizzying array of new bests and curious firsts. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia and Real Madrid midfielder Luka Modric has drawn level with Cristiano Ronaldo on a record-breaking number of Euros appearances, but he may only stand alongside his Portuguese foe for a matter of days. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The transfer window is open! Clubs around the UK and Europe are getting business done as they look to give themselves the best possible chance at success in the new season. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Mere weeks after a gruelling domestic season concluded for the continent's most celebrated talents, 24 teams and over 600 players are now going again with Euro 2024 supremacy at stake. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Vitoria vs. Internacional (Sunday, 8.00pm) Looking to secure their maiden win of the 2024 Brasileiro campaign at the ninth attempt, bottom side Vitoria will welcome Internacional to Estadio Manoel Barradas on Sunday afternoon. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Ecuador vs. Honduras (Sunday, 8.30pm) Playing their final warm-up fixture ahead of the Copa America, Ecuador meet Honduras in Connecticut on Sunday evening. 16 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland vs. Netherlands (Sunday, 2.00pm) Getting Group D under way at Euro 2024, Poland and the Netherlands meet at Hamburg's Volksparkstadion on Sunday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool manager Arne Slot has reportedly given the thumbs-up to the Reds making a move for a highly-rated Eredivisie attacker in the summer transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly laid out their financial demands to let struggling attacker Emile Smith Rowe leave the club this summer. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk One of Arsenal's home-grown talents has reportedly informed the Gunners that he wants to assess his options for a transfer elsewhere in the summer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk European Championship holders Italy bounced back from an early setback to record a 2-1 victory over Albania in their Euro 2024 opener on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Nedim Bajrami has broken a European Championship record after scoring in Albania's 2-1 defeat to Italy in their opening Euro 2024 Group B clash at Westfalenstadion on Saturday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Croatia captain Luka Modric has said that his side must move on quickly from their disappointing 3-0 defeat to Spain in their opening match at Euro 2024. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain captain Alvaro Morata is confident that he will be available for his country's second match at Euro 2024 after suffering an injury scare against Croatia on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal said that he was "thrilled" to play a key role in Spain's 3-0 success over Croatia, with La Roja making an impressive start to their Euro 2024 campaign. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has said that his side must remain focused after opening their European Championship campaign with an impressive win over Croatia. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool are reportedly interested in signing two players from Serie A during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly identified a replacement for Erling Haaland should the prolific attacker leave the club in the near future. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Alvaro Morata, Fabian Ruiz and Dani Carvajal scored the goals as Spain opened their Euro 2024 campaign with a 3-0 victory over Croatia in Berlin on Saturday evening. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's Mateo Kovacic has reportedly attracted interest from Turkish side Galatasaray ahead of this summer's transfer window.