‘I’m a person who has to lead by example’ says Emma Hayes as Chelsea resume push to retain WSL title

EMMA HAYES is committed as she has ever been as she approaches the final months in charge of Chelsea with her title-holders chasing a seventh WSL crown.

And the Blues head coach is determined to leave her team in the best place for her eventual successor.

This lunchtime Hayes’ players resume their push to become WSL champions for a fourth successive season.

The team, who this week announced a sponsorship with Skoda, host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.

And they aim to maintain their record of having never lost a league match to the Red Devils having won six of their last seven top-flight encounters.

The match will take place hours ahead of the Chelsea chief becoming the first female coach to receive the Football Writers’ Association Tribute Award.

The gong is being awarded in honour of her trophy-winning success at the club since taking charge in 2012.

It will also be the final home game in the league against United Hayes with the head coach leaving to take charge of the USA Women’s national team this summer.

When asked if she felt her impending departure might affect her players performance, Hayes said: “I can’t control people and what they do.

“But if anyone wants to make my departure an excuse for themselves, I can’t stop that.

“What I know is that the people that really, really want to push themselves and challenge to be the very best, they will do it regardless.

“I do not feel that things would be any different to what it would be 12 months ago if I was maintaining my position (here at Chelsea).

“I’m very much a person who has to lead by example.

“I recognise that if I drop by even one per cent, it gives lots of them an excuse to say, ‘she’s not committed’, so I challenge myself daily to make sure that doesn’t happen.

“I’m in charge of myself, I’m responsible for me, I’m responsible for them standards. I don’t need anyone else to hold me to that.

“I drive two hours every day, get my child to school, get here, do my job, do it six days a week. I’m committed as I’ve ever been.”

Victory against United the Blues’ first WSL home game this year would see them open up a three-point gap at the top of the table.

Rivals Arsenal are currently second and Manchester City sit third on 25 points each with the latter hosting Liverpool later.

And this afternoon the league leaders will play their first top-flight game of this year without the services of Sam Kerr.

Earlier this month the Australia star, who has been serving as a stand-in captain following an injury to Millie Bright, sustained an ACL injury.

Last week the striker underwent surgery after rupturing a knee ligament whilst away on a winter training break with Chelsea and is sidelined for the rest of this term.

Despite Kerr’s absence Manchester United boss Marc Skinner believes the Blues have enough attacking depth to remain a threat to their title rivals.

This term has seen some of the Blues other forwards shine in action for their side including Mia Fishel and Aggie Beever-Jones.

Beever-Jones, who is an England Under-23s starlet, as notched up five goals in seven WSL games this season.

Her efforts include a dream headed finish against Liverpool in her side’s 5-1 defeat of the Reds at Stamford Bridge last November.

Skinner said: “The ability Chelsea have to rotate is obvious.

“Emma has said herself that Aggie Beever-Jones is playing well and Lauren James and Fran Kirby.

“They have an amazing amount of depth. Everyone knows how good they are and how good Sam is.

“We wish her all the very best with her recovery. It’s horrible to see anyone out with that (injury), let alone a player of her quality.

“We are preparing a little bit differently.

“But I think Chelsea have many solutions they are able to find, we have to be prepared for all situations.”

Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk