Ahead of Chelsea Women’s first game of the season away to Liverpool, Emma Hayes has summed up her squad’s summer and explained why it won’t be easy choosing her starting XI on Sunday.
Chelsea were set to begin the campaign at Stamford Bridge against West Ham last Sunday, but the game has been postponed until 28 September following the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, who Hayes received her MBE from in 2016 and paid tribute to at her press conference today.
‘The game was called off quite rightly in honour of Her Majesty,’ she said.
‘The internationals have recognised the enormity of our Royal Family and the place it plays in our society. I speak as an English woman when I say it’s been a very sombre week, and very overwhelming seeing the coverage in the build-up to the funeral.
‘It’s befitting on Sunday for the women’s season to start and hopefully the fans and the players get the opportunity to pay respect in the way we know best, on the football pitch.
‘Our country has lost unbelievable service from a person who has given absolutely everything to her country during her reign,’ added Hayes.
‘For most of us in this country we have experienced no other monarch. There is nothing but deep respect and gratitude for somebody who has done so much for this country.’
Instead of a showpiece Stamford Bridge fixture, a trip to Tranmere awaits Hayes and her players as we get our title defence up and running.
The manager has been impressed by what she has seen in the build-up to the 2022/23 campaign, including from our new arrivals, and she knows she will leave some of her squad disappointed when she makes her first team selection.
‘It's been a really enjoyable pre-season, and the team are as prepared as they can be going into the opening weekend,’ underlined Hayes.
‘We need to kick off to see how much progress we have made in those summer weeks, when we’ve been working on our way of playing and the clarity around everybody’s roles, and the scenarios you have to face game to game.
‘We have an incredible team; it is incredibly challenging to pick 11. There are difficult decisions but I’m used to making them. I’m happy to have the quality we’ve got on board because they’re a tremendous group working hard to push each other day in, day out, and it’s teams that win things, not individuals.
‘I’m ready to go. We have had enough prep; we just want to kick off Sunday. We’re looking forward to getting underway.’