claimed a record fourth consecutive Women’s Super League title on Saturday, and even though it is manager Emma Hayes’ sixth with the club, emotions were high as glory was secured.
It was a comfortable 3-0 win for Chelsea over bottom-of-the-table Reading on Saturday afternoon which secured them the title, with Sam Kerr scoring a brace and Guro Reiten netting between the two from the Australian.
were still in the hunt on the final day of the season but their 1-0 win at Liverpool was in vain as Chelsea picked up the points they needed.
Hayes has been with the club since 2012 and won six titles in the last eight years, but despite her immense CV, emotions were still getting to her as she watched her side pick up the win they required.
‘What an unbelievable team I’ve got, lucky me,’ she told Sky Sports. ‘It was really emotional at the end of the game but I was man-marked by the cameraman so I didn’t get the chance to let loose with a few tears.
‘For us it’s not just about building a team to compete, it’s about growing – and looking at a wall of six thousand fans today gave me so much joy.
‘Some of the players have gone through really tough times with not playing. I have to dispel this misnomer that players aren’t happy when they don’t play – they have the ability to look after themselves and games start coming around and on days like this they know it’s absolutely worth it.
‘We are family. These people are as close to me as my family. My entire staff deserve credit and the day as much as anyone.’
On her own future, Hayes added: ‘Naturally every manager is depleted at end of season, I’m knackered, I’m going away, I’m going to chill out and I’m going to be a mum… and I’ve showed you the art of how to avoid a question!’
Kerr has not had her best season in terms of goal-scoring, netting 12 times in the WSL, but it has ended with silverware and she says that winning the title does not get any easier.
‘I think they [title wins] get better each year. They definitely get harder,’ said the 29-year-old. ‘It makes it so much more sweeter when it is so tight at the top. It’s my fourth but it is some people’s first, so we’ll all celebrate it like it’s the first.’
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