Women’s football

ERIN CUTHBERT hopes Chelsea can silence Ajax fans when they take on the Dutch giants in the Women’s Champions League quarters.And the midfielder says it “would mean everything” if the Blues reached the contest’s in Emma Hayes’ last season at the helm.Erin Cuthbert (centre) warns Ajax will be fearless foes for Chelsea with the Dutch side playing the Women’s Champions League last eight for the first timeCredit: GettyThe Blues duel with Ajax, who are second in the Netherlands’ top tier, comes four days after their defeat of Arsenal in the WSLCredit: GettyAjax have become the second team from the Netherlands to reach the Women’s Champions League quarter-finals for the first timeCredit: AlamyCuthbert was speaking to reporters on Monday ahead of Chelsea’s first-leg duel with their rivals at the Johan Cruyff Arena on Tuesday.It’s the Dutch team’s first taste of the contest’s last eight phase. The club progressed to the knockout phase after finishing second in Group C above Bayern Munich and Roma. A record crowd for a women’s club game in the Netherlands is expected at their Amsterdam ground with 34,200 tickets sold so far.Read More Football Stories While Chelsea will draw on experience of performing in front of big crowds in Europe, Cuthbert warns they may face a fearless Ajax.The Blues ace, whose side will face their rivals at Stamford Bridge in the second leg next Wednesday, said: “It’s their first time at this point in the competition.”We can certainly use that experience as one sort of advantage factor.”As a player, I certainly know that if I was in the competition for the first time, I’d be playing without fear.Most read in Football”We need to be wary that they can play without fear, they’ve got nothing to lose, and we’ve got everything (to lose).”We’ll be giving it everything to try and bring a result back to Stamford Bridge that we’re happy with.”Boss Emma Hayes, added: “We’ve only had yesterday to prepare for this game.”But the players’ experiences of being at this tournament have to count, because it is intimidating to play in front of 35,000 at a tight arena.”For us, let’s draw on our experiences because it is important that we come through this tie in a really strong position.”A last eight knockout of Ajax would see Chelsea pitted against either SK Brann or two-time contest winners Barcelona in the semi-finals.Last year was the last time the Blues reached the tournament’s semis where they fell to a narrow 2-1 aggregate loss to Barca.And the Catalan giants were the victors when both clubs reached the final for the first time back in 2021.The biggest trophy for Europe’s elite clubs remains the only major piece of silverware to have so far eluded Hayes.And Cuthbert hopes the Blues will fulfil their wish of lifting it with their gaffer before for her departure for a new job as boss of the USA Women’s team later this year.She adds: “It would mean everything to get to the final and to go on and win it.”But I’ve been at this club so long, it’s all about a process.Emma Hayes’ players hope to reach this term’s Champions League semi-final where a two-leg test against SK Brann or Barcelona awaitsCredit: Getty”We’re in the quarter-finals now and it’s two ties that lie aheadREAD MORE SUN STORIES”Two tough games against a really tough team who have more than proved themselves at this level.”We’re under no illusions, it’s going to be a tough game, but of course it’s hard not to dream a little bit.” More

VIC AKERS insists Arsenal’s kitman will learn from the sock clash scenario that stalled a televised Women’s Super League duel.The ex-Gunners Women’s boss was at Stamford Bridge watching the club’s WSL side’s 3-1 loss to Chelsea on Friday night.Former Arsenal Women’s boss Vic Akers was among the spectators watching Gunners in action against Chelsea at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA:Press AssociationArsenal are due to take Chelsea in this year’s Conti Cup final on March 31Credit: PAAkers led Arsenal to a quadruple trophy win in 2007Credit: GettyThe duel between the title rivals, aired live on Sky Sports, was pushed back by 30 minutes following a sock colour clash spotted three minutes before kick-off.It led to Arsenal players changing the white socks they were wearing and putting on black and blue pairs obtained from Chelsea’s club shop.The FA is reviewing the incident in line with WSL competition rules which state a kit clash may lead to a fine.Akers, 77, who blazed a trail as Gunners Women’s boss, was once a kitman for Arsene Wenger’s Prem sides.Read More Football Reflecting on the kit clash and his memories of managing players’ apparel for more than two decades, he said: “It’s one of those things.”At the end of the day, having been in that position as a kit manager, the job is not easy, but he will learn from this.”I was fortunate enough to have been in the job for many years so I know if I went to Chelsea, I would take two sets of socks.”With Chelsea they would either be wearing white, or they may wear a different colour.Most read in Football”But in general they wear white so that meant you had to take the red ones.”You get into a rhythm in all fairness as to what clubs (will wear) and how they change and who is doing what (kit-wise).”Akers, who established Arsenal Women in 1987 and led them to 32 major trophy wins including the Champions League, has been following the Gunners’ WSL stars progress this season.  The former head coach, who managed the side for 22 years, hoped to see the team maintain the form that led them to beat Aston Villa 4-0 in the Conti Cup semis.  But goals from Sjoeke Nusken and Lauren James dented Arsenal’s title charge leaving them six-points behind Emma Hayes’ Chelsea.And James’ opening goal and player of the match shift in attack is among the Chelsea performances that impressed Akers on Friday.The ex-Gunners Women’s chief, who led Arsenal to a 2007 quadruple with Hayes as his assistant, said: “Emma is on the charge at the moment so good luck to her “Lauren James was outstanding and Chelsea were the better side and much of that was down to her. “She was on our (Arsenal’s) books as a youngster but was let go, which was quite incredible. But this happens, and she’s had a couple of clubs since.”Now she is at a club where she is most wanted, and that bears out in her game.”Lauren James is among the players who impressed for Chelsea in their last league outingCredit: Getty”Chelsea’s win against Arsenal saw Hayes oversee her last WSL match at Stamford Bridge at the Blues’ helm.The Camden-born gaffer will take charge of the United States women’s team later this year ending a 14-year reign which includes six WSL title wins.And Akers hopes to see Hayes depart her current role on a high.He added: “There’s one part of me that wants Arsenal to win (the title) because I’m an Arsenal man.”But there’s another part saying, ‘Emma, you’re still on for this quadruple the same as what we did before’.”It would be lovely as well for her to go to America on the strength of that. But there is still a lot of football to play.”Emma is Emma and I think she will get bigger and better and be a success in America.Akers believes Hayes will lead the USA’s national women’s team to more successCredit: Getty”I would have loved to have seen her in the England job in the past, but it’s America’s gain.READ MORE SUN STORIES”It will be a tough job but it’s something that Emma will love, and she’s got the same assistant from club who will go with her.”She will give it her best shot and she’s excellent at what she does. I’m sure the girls in America will respond to that.” More

EMMA HAYES brushed off Arsenal’s kit clash error as “an earnest mistake” after Chelsea dispatched the Gunners.Lauren James and Sjoeke Nusken shone as the Blues beat their title rivals 3-1 following a 30-minute kick-off delay.Emma Hayes’ Chelsea extended their lead at the top of the WSL with their defeat of ArsenalCredit: ReutersA clash sock colours for the rivals resulted in the Gunners having to wear obtained from the Blues’ club store at Stamford BridgeCredit: ReutersLauren James and Sjoeke Nusken were on target netting Chelsea’s three first-half goalsCredit: GettyAll initially appeared to be going smoothly in the build-up to the Friday night duel with a crowd of 32,970 watching Hayes’ last WSL match at Stamford Bridge.But the game was unexpectedly disrupted due to a kit clash with both sides wearing similar coloured socks.Before kick-off Arsenal players donned the white and red socks worn with their home kitAnd they could be seen in them during warm-up ahead of the scheduled 7:00pm start of the match.But three minutes before the clash began, the visitors were instructed they were not permitted to wear them.This was due to clash in colour with the socks worn by their hosts.The scenario saw the Gunners having to buy Chelsea’s blue and black away ones from the club’s store.But the North London giants had to cover the over the Nike logo on the socks due with grey tape due to the club being sponsored by Adidas.Most read in FootballThe garment clash prompted a bemused reaction among some observers with former Chelsea ace Karen Carney describing the scenario as “embarrassing”.However Hayes insisted it was an “earnest mistake” and hopes Arsenal’s kitman won’t be thrown under the bus.The Blues chief said: “Because of who I am, I’m not going to throw the kit man under the bus. He will be feeling terrible this evening.“It’s a mistake made regardless, he’s a new guy into the position. It happened.“If we would have had blue socks, and if this was an away game, we would have had white and blue.”But because it was a home game we knew three weeks in advance we’d be wearing white socks, we’re the home team.“But because we didn’t have blue, I couldn’t just say don’t worry about it, we’ll put the blue socks on because we didn’t have them.“We are also in a day and age – and God knows why, – they cut everything out.  There’s a whole process within all of that.“It’s an earnest mistake. I’m certainly not going to pile in on him.”The hosts took just thirty-two minutes to race to a 3-0 advantage with the result giving them a six-point lead over the Gunners in the league.Arsenal found themselves overwhelmed at times with James, Nusken and Johanna Rytting Kaneryd combining efficiently. On the Gunners donning Chelsea socks, Hayes added: “I was delighted to see lion crests on Arsenal’s legs in the first half.“Maybe that gave my players motivation, I do not know.”Ahead of the game Hayes spoke of demanding a “Chelsea standard” performance from her sideAnd that is precisely what she got with the team going 3-0 up in 32 minutes.Lauren James opened the scoring with 13th goal in 14 top-flight games this term.The forward ran onto Nusken’s pass wrongfooting her markers to fire over goalkeeper Manuela Zinsberger in the 15th minute.The visitors’ tough start got worse with Nusken slotting the ball beyond the Arsenal shot-stopper just six minutes later.And the Gunners were caught out again with Rytting Kaneryd pouncing on the ball following Leah Williamson’s free-kick, before making a powerful run to the box.And her effort was deflected home off Nusken.The second half saw Alessia Russo, Frida Maanum and Emily Fox introduced in place of Steph Catley, Victoria Pelova and Stina Blackstenius.They had a free-kick that was fired at Hannah Hampton with 29 minutes of normal time minute shortly before James forced an impressive save from Zinsberger.The visitors nabbed a late consolation through with Kim Little’s strike deflected in off Catarina Macario.Defeat for Eidevall’s side resulted in the Blues opening up six-point gap over the GunnersCredit: AlamyBut the WSL leaders held out to seal the win denting Arsenal’s title hopes.READ MORE SUN STORIESGunners boss Jonas Eidevall said: “We should be unsatisfied with the way we performed as a team because that’s not our levels.“I need to take accountability for that, we need to learn from that and we need to go next week.” More