While the Gunners took their opportunity with four minutes to go before the game at Molineux would have required a penalty shoot-out, earlier on at a similar stage of normal time, Chelsea broke through but Lauren James went directly for goal and Manuela Zinsberger was able to save.

‘It was a game of very few chances for both sides,’ said Hayes after Sunday afternoon’s 1-0 defeat.

‘We had that big chance right by the end of the 90-minute period and that was our moment to win the game. We didn't take our chance, Arsenal took their chance, each team had one big chance and there was not much in it. It was quite a poor game to be honest.

‘When you're the losing side you always feel disappointment but I can’t ask any more from my players. They gave everything they could give.’

Reflecting further on the collective effort from those in blue, our manager countered a suggestion that Chelsea’s busy match schedule had a decisive impact on this cup final.

‘If we score with a few minutes to go with LJ who maybe squares it to Sjoeke Nusken, would I be asked the same question?

‘In a game of few chances, they took theirs when we could have had two or three opportunities to clear the ball in the last part, in a game where a single goal was going to settle it. Of course a punishing schedule doesn't help but we grew in the game and we were better in the second half.

‘Of course it is tough on the players physically but we’re Chelsea, we don't make excuses like that.

‘Going forward, we didn't use the ball well enough in the first half, that was our biggest problem. They locked us off to play down the right, we didn’t switch it enough, we didn't take care of the ball in the right ways. In the second half we had better control of the play and it was us more counter-attacking.’

Away from the result, Hayes explained that Niamh Charles wearing the captain’s armband in the first half and Erin Cuthbert in the second was a plan made before the game. She also confirmed she had told Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall his touchline behaviour was not acceptable close to the end when he became involved with Cuthbert taking a throw-in.

‘I don't think we need to make a massive story out of it,’ she added. ‘The problem is people are going to. I just want to say congratulations to Arsenal. They've won and I don't want the talking point to be about that.’

The Gunners coach was able to give positive news on the condition of Frida Maanum after his player collapsed on the pitch during the game.

Speaking before that update, Hayes had this to say: ‘I don't know what's happened but player welfare is always the most important thing and I really hope she's okay.’