Emma Hayes praises progress after Chelsea win seventh WSL title: ‘Women’s football now is a serious business’

Emma Hayes and Chelsea FC exchanged the perfect parting gifts to round off the Barclay Women’s Super League season. The league title was the only thing to be won after early exits in the Conti Cup, FA Cup and UEFA Women’s Champions League, and they entered the final day level on points with Manchester City. Chelsea held on to first place by their fingertips thanks to just a two-goal lead going into the final match. But in the end, Chelsea were league champions once again.

A narrow away win against Manchester United may not have been enough, so Chelsea quickly overcame the Red Devils at Old Trafford, taking a four-goal lead into half-time. An early goal from Mayra Ramirez in the first two minutes was followed by further goals from Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Sjoeke Nüsken that put Chelsea in cruise control, and second-half goals from Melanie Leupolz and Fran Kirby sealed the title.

It is Hayes’ seventh league title, his fifth successive trophy and his last with Chelsea. Now she looks forward to her new role as head coach of the U.S. women’s national team.

The final title begins a new Hayes era

It is the seventh league title for Hayes, her fifth and final trophy in a row with Chelsea, as she looks to her new role as coach of the United States women’s national team. The celebrations may be short-lived as Hayes’ next journey begins soon. In just two weeks, she will be sidelined with the USWNT for two friendlies against South Korea, starting June 1.

The training camp roster has not yet been announced for Hayes’ first friendlies, but it will be his first official lineup following a collaborative process with former interim head coach Twila Kilgore. Kilgore assumed a full-time assistant role on Hayes’ USWNT coaching staff. Chelsea FC assistant Denise Reddy is also expected to join Hayes on his USWNT squad.

The June friendlies are the first of four matches Hayes will have with the USWNT before the Olympics. The Summer Olympics are almost two months away, as the women’s football tournament is set to begin on July 25 in France.

Mayra, the MVP

A massive performance from Ramirez paved the way to the winner’s podium for Chelsea. The Colombia international was signed from Levante this year for a record transfer fee and provided two assists and two goals.

Built to win

Ramirez’s arrival during the January transfer window is just another example of Hayes’ lasting legacy at Chelsea. The long-time manager has brought some of the biggest names to the club, including Millie Bright, Fran Kirby, Sam Kerr and Ji So-Yun. Chelsea’s record player arrivals, from international talent to England’s best, are part of Hayes’ plan.

“What a wonderful team performance today. I picked a team of leaders from the start and felt they were absolutely [essential] We had the emotional maturity and regulation for a stadium as suitable as this,” Hayes said after the game. “We lost a lot of players today, so to have some of them back today was an incredible performance.”

Her 12-year spell as manager at Chelsea was a decade-old oil painting. Hayes as the artist holding the brush and each player, team member and coach had a unique color that brought the vision to life. Her goals of setting the club up for success and helping women’s football grow to new heights have been achieved and now new standards are being set.

“To finish here at Old Trafford, I hope to have a glass of wine with Sir Alex in a minute,” she said during the post-match celebrations. “Everyone told us we couldn’t. Everyone said girls can’t play, they can’t fill stadiums, they can’t get paid, they can’t create history… Not only are we not going away, but we’re going to fill every week. Women’s football Now it’s a serious matter and for me that’s what it’s all about.”