Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia

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

13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Championship title hopefuls Leeds United will be looking to maintain their position at the top of the table when they travel to Loftus Road to face Queens Park Rangers on Saturday lunchtime. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United booked their spot in the quarter-finals of the Europa League courtesy of a 4-1 victory over 10-man Real Sociedad in the second leg of their last-16 contest in the competition on Thursday night. 13 March 2025 talksport.com Bruno Fernandes scored a hat-trick and made Europa League history as Manchester United came from behind to beat Real Sociedad 4-1. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea maintained their flawless record in the Conference League as they defeated Copenhagen 1-0 on Thursday, sealing a 3-1 aggregate victory and booking their place in the quarter-finals. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur's hopes of ending a 17-year trophy drought remain alive thanks to a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie, which sealed a 3-2 aggregate victory. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides looking to move further clear of the Turkish Super Lig relegation zone go head-to-head on Saturday as Kasimpasa welcome Alanyaspor to the Recep Tayyip Erdogan Stadium. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two teams looking to bounce back from defeats meet on Saturday as Istanbul Basaksehir host Trabzonspor at the Basaksehir Fatih Terim Stadium. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Off the back of a narrow loss to Inter Miami in their last league outing, Charlotte FC will host FC Cincinnati in their latest MLS fixture at the Bank of America Stadium on Saturday evening. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the Turkish Super Lig table will go head-to-head as Konyaspor welcome Besiktas to the Torku Arena. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Gaziantep will be looking to secure three successive victories for the first time this season when they welcome relegation-threatened Kayserispor to Gaziantep Stadium on Saturday. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Kansas City will be looking to snap their run of five defeats from their opening five games when they play host to Minnesota United at Children's Mercy Park on Sunday morning. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton welcome West Ham United to Goodison Park for a bottom-half Premier League contest on Saturday afternoon. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brentford boss Thomas Frank has revealed that Fabio Carvalho faces an uphill battle to play again this season. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim has named Ayden Heaven in his starting side for Thursday's Europa League last-16 second leg with Real Sociedad. 13 March 2025 talksport.com Mauricio Pochettino has told talkSPORT he dreams of returning to Tottenham one day. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea and Copenhagen have confirmed their starting lineups for Thursday's Conference League fixture at Stamford Bridge. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes Pep Guardiola's side will need to score at least two goals if they wish to beat Brighton & Hove Albion in Saturday's Premier League contest at the Etihad Stadium. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Santos president Marcelo Teixeira is hopeful that the club will be able to sign Neymar to a fresh contract. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Erling Haaland will attempt to set a fresh Premier League record when Manchester City welcome Brighton & Hove Albion to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Premier League striker Jermain Defoe has exclusively told Sports Mole he does not believe that Darwin Nunez can rescue his career at Liverpool. 13 March 2025 talksport.com Real Sociedad midfielder Arsen Zakharyan is reportedly unavailable for their second leg clash Manchester United due to visa issues. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly reignited their interest in Lille forward Jonathan David. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid have confirmed that Ferland Mendy is facing a spell on the sidelines with the muscular problem that he picked up during Wednesday's Champions League last-16 second leg against Atletico Madrid. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United could be without up to four players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Everton at Goodison Park. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton are set to be without five players for Saturday's Premier League clash with West Ham United at Goodison Park. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk UEFA have revealed that they will "enter discussions" with FIFA and IFAB over a potential rule change following Julian Alvarez's controversial spot-kick in Wednesday's Champions League clash between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton manager David Moyes will renew acquaintances with one of his former clubs West Ham United when they do battle at Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion could be without up to seven players for Saturday's Premier League clash with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will be without at least four players for Saturday's Premier League clash Brighton & Hove Albion at the Etihad Stadium. 13 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Valencia's battle to stay out of the La Liga relegation zone will continue on Saturday night, when they head to Estadi Montilivi to tackle a Girona outfit that are without a victory since the start of February.