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Chelsea boss Hayes promises Blues bounceback from heavy Champions League final loss to Barcelona


EMMA HAYES paid a touching tribute to Chelsea fans and vowed her beaten Blues will bounce back from Champions League heartbreak.

And the Kingsmeadow boss described her team’s loss to Barcelona as another step in their journey after revealing her players’ post-match chat with club owner Roman Abramovich. 

Emma Hayes says Chelsea will work hard on the training pitch after losing their first Champions League final clashCredit: Getty
Barcelona Women won their first Women’s Champions League trophy after losing 4-1 to Lyon in the 2019 finalCredit: AFP

Chelsea succumbed to a 4-0 defeat to Spain’s title winners in their first final in Europe’s elite club contest.

And Hayes believes the performance of her side – who face Everton in the Women’s FA Cup – did not reflect the physical edge  of the WSL.

Hayes said: “I think the physicality in our league that we have, we didn’t show that. So we’re disappointed. 

“The realities are, if you don’t dominate enough of the first and second balls in any football match,  you don’t deserve to win it, and I don’t think we did that.

“I think that’s what our dressing is most upset about. 

“We’re a classy team and we behave I think as you should do when you’ve been beaten by a better team and that’s one that acknowledges what we need to do to improve. 

“Our owner came in to see us. All the girls were very quick to tell him we’ll be back here and we’ll work hard on the training pitch to make sure we do that. 

“If I know this group well enough I know they mean these words. 

“And this is just another step in our journey, because – we talk about the disappointment – but we’re the second best team in Europe.”

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Chelsea will face Everton in the Women’s FA Cup fifth round in their final game of the seasonCredit: PA
Hayes’ players told Blues owner Roman Abramovich they plan to reach another Champions League finalCredit: AP

Barcelona made history by being crowned as Spain’s first Women’s Champions League winners two years on from a 4-1 finals drubbing they endured against Lyon. 

And the club’s victory entailed some standout displays including impressive wing play by Caroline Graham Hansen and Lieke Martens. 

We wanted to be European champions and now we can say that we are

Lluis Cortes

The result was the highlight of an outstanding season for the Lluis Cortes’s Catalan side who retained their LaLiga Women’s Crown

And the Blaugranes did so after winning all 26 games they have played in Spain’s top tier with a match against ninth-placed Athletic up next.

Lieke Martens and her Barca team-mates have won the LaLiga Women’s title as well as the Champions LeagueCredit: Getty
Asisat Oshoala and her Barca team-mates will play Athletic in Spain’s top tier nextCredit: Getty

Barca boss Cortes said: “It’s incredible, in Budapest last time (when we lost 4-1 to Lyon) we were like Chelsea were. 

“There has been a lot of work since that day. That day we promised ourselves we would work a lot to be European champions. 

“Behind us, there are many, many people and everyone has worked really hard for this goal. 

“We wanted to be European champions and now we can say that we are.”

Lluis Cortes says Barca have been working hard to achieve their first major trophy win in Europe.Credit: Getty
Emma Hayes responds to Chelsea’s devastating 4-0 loss to Barcelona


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


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