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      Hayes and Chelsea ready to face a Reading side ‘fighting for their lives’ in a pivotal WSL title and survival clash

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      EMMA HAYES insists Chelsea’s focus is on what they can control in their bid to be crowned WSL champions for a fourth successive season. The Blues manager is preparing her team to face a Reading side ‘fighting for their lives’ with the Royals aiming to avoid relegation.
      Chelsea will be a targeting a win that would see them clinch a third successive league and FA Cup doubleCredit: PA
      A win against Chelsea for bottom-placed Reading could see them remain in the WSL if Leicester draw with or lose to BrightonCredit: Getty
      Emma Hayes hopes to steer Chelsea a fourth WSL title win on the bounceCredit: Getty
      Saturday’s match is one of six end-of-season clashes, all kicking off at 2:30 pm.
      The result of this encounter and Manchester United’s duel with Liverpool will decide whether the Blues retain the title, or if the Red Devils win it for the first time in their history. 
      Hayes said: “We respect that we’re facing a team fighting for their lives for a manager I know very well. 
      “For us, we have to take care of all the right things. 
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      “When I think back to every campaign (where we’ve won the title), we’ve only ever won the league by a couple of points at the best.
      “This is just business as usual for us”.
      A Chelsea away victory would see them claim a third successive league and FA Cup double.  
      And three points for Kelly Chambers’ Royals would see them leap out of the drop zone if rivals Leicester fail to beat Brighton. 
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      Last season Chelsea lost 1-0 on the road to Reading with Canada forward Deanne Rose netting the winning goal.
      However Hayes says that defeat will not enter her players’ minds in their duel with the Royals. 
      The Blues chief added: “We don’t think about that. We’re in a position to control the outcome.
      “Everybody behind the scenes (staff and players) have worked so hard to get to this point.
      “The focus, the concentration and consistency is all I’ve been interested in with them all week, to make sure that we’re in a position to perform. 
      “Everybody knows their roles and tasks and we’re in the best mindset. 
      Should Chelsea lose and Man United beat the Reds away, Marc Skinner’s side will become WSL champions for the first time in their history. 
      On whether she will keep an eye on United’s score, Hayes said: “I might ask at halftime but for the most part I will focus on just what we were in control of.
      “If I need to ask in the second half then I will do but I don’t think about it.
      “I just think about getting off to the right start.”
      A Reading loss would see them drop out of the top-flight eight years on from winning promotion to the WSL.” 
      Royals head coach Chambers said: “As tough as the challenge ahead is for us, it is a game of football. 
      “We are where we are and for different reasons, and honest conversations have happened.
      “As much as it is a hard position to be in right now, the players have really attacked the week in a positive mindset to try to do everything they can for the weekend.
      “We are still in the fight. We have to leave everything out there.”
      Between 2018 and 2022 the Royals have been a solid mid-table side with the team finishing fifth three years ago.
      This term the club have struggled with injuries including forward Rose sidelined with an Achilles issue last September.
      Deanne Rose netted for Reading when they beat Chelsea 1-0 in the league in December 2021Credit: Reuters
      The Canada ace made her return with a 60th minute substitute appearance during Reading’s 4-1 loss to Tottenham last time out. 
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      Chambers added: “Deanne gives us a completely different dimension to the squad that we haven’t had all season. 
      “What we saw (from her) against Tottenham is what we’ve missed this season. More

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      Arsenal and Brazil ace Rafaelle reportedly due to leave the Gunners’ WSL side this summer

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      RAFAELLE is reportedly set to leave Arsenal this summer bringing her 18-month spell at the Women’s Super League side to an end. The Brazil centre-back could be headed to the USA’s National Women’s Soccer League and is thought to be attracting interest from Orlando Pride. 
      Rafaelle is reportedly set to leave Arsenal for pastures new this summerCredit: Getty
      The Brazil central defender is thought to be a target for American club Orlando PrideCredit: Getty
      The Athletic reports the club, which competes in the United States’ top tier, have been linked with a move for the player.
      Rafaelle, who joined the Gunners last January from Chinese team Changchun Zhuoyue, has established herself as a key figure in the club’s back line. 
      This term the Bahia-born defender has made 15 WSL appearances for Arsenal who play Aston Villa in their final league game this season.
      She has developed an impressive defensive partnership with Leah Williamson with both players helping their side to a 3-1 Conti Cup final defeat of Chelsea in March.
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      The Brazilian scored the third goal in a game that saw Arsenal pick up their first trophy win since 2019 and their first piece of silverware under head coach Jonas Eidevall. 
      And she netted a first-half equaliser during the Gunners’ a first-leg Women’s Champions League semi-final 2-2 draw with Wolfsburg.
      She also featured in their narrow 3-2 second-leg semis loss to the German giants played in front of a record crowd of more than 60,000 at the Emirates.
      On the international stage Rafaelle has helped Brazil to lift the Copa America Feminina trophy twice in 2018 and 2022. 
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      Last year the centre-back, who has 77 senior international caps, skippered the team as they won the tournament for a fourth consecutive time. 
      Arsenal will take on Aston Villa at Meadow Park in their last game of the seasonCredit: Getty
      Rafaelle and her team-mates will face Carla Ward’s Villa side at home this Saturday.
      Villa, who are fifth, are on course achieve their highest finish in the WSL since their promotion to the division in 2020. 
      A win for the Gunners, who are third, will see them qualify for next season’s Champions League. More

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      Majority of Women’s Champions League matches to go behind paywall next season with final remaining free to view

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      THE bulk of next term’s Women’s Champions League games will go behind a paywall according to sports streaming company DAZN. Viewers will be required to pay for 42 of the 61 matches in the contest with 19 fixtures remaining free to watch. 
      Two thirds of Women’s Champions League matches aired by DAZN will go behind a paywall from next seasonCredit: Alamy
      The final will be among the matches that will stay as free to view from next termCredit: Getty
      Free-to-view games will include the final and one semi-final and two matches from the quarter-final stage.
      The move comes two seasons into DAZN’s four-year agreement to exclusively air the Women’s Champions League fixtures. 
      It also comes two years after Uefa introduced a 16-team group stage format with centralised streaming coverage via DAZN’s YouTube channel. 
      DAZN’s global markets CEO Veronica Diquattro said: “We want to help the women’s game realise its potential, by reaching audiences and by developing its obvious commercial appeal to create a virtuous circle of investment, growth, raising standards and overall interest.”
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      To date the contest’s fixtures have been watched in more than 230 countries with DAZN having 362,000 subscribers to its platform.
      And last year’s final, which saw Lyon beat Barcelona 3-1 at the home of Juventus, was watched by 3.6million viewers.
      This figure marked a 56 per cent increase on the audience that tuned in to watch Barcelona beat Chelsea 4-0  in the contest’s decider in 2021. 
      Away from its online coverage this season’s competition has seen some record turnouts at knockout stage games.
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      A crowd of 27,697 flocked to Stamford Bridge to watch Chelsea’s first-leg semis clash with Barcelona in April.
      Arsenal’s clash with Wolfsburg at the Emirates was among the fixtures that attracted a record crowd this seasonCredit: Getty
      The match set a new record for spectator numbers at a Women’s Champions League game in England before Arsenal’s clash with Wolfsburg at the Emirates. 
      The Gunners’ semi-final second leg battle with the German giants a month later drew a crowd of 60,063 
      The fixture saw them break the attendance record for a women’s club game in England.  More

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      Man Utd fans fume Avram Glazer has ‘no shame’ after billing club £500,000 to fly to Wembley despite over £500m debt

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      MANCHESTER UNITED fans are raging after it was revealed owner Avram Glazer has billed £500,000 worth of flights to the club for two trips to England.Glazer, 62, who lives in Florida, travelled over to London to attend the Red Devils’ Carabao Cup final victory over Newcastle back in February.
      Avram Glazer is already an unpopular figure among Manchester United fansCredit: Alamy
      He then returned to England earlier this month for the Women’s FA Cup final – which they lost 1-0 to Chelsea.
      According to The Athletic, these two visits – which Glazer complete through the use of private jets – each cost the club £250,000.
      It is understood that security and accommodation were additional fees on top of the flights.
      The report also states that Glazer’s visit to the World Cup in Qatar last year – which he went to with his family – was also put down as a business expense.
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      It was said to have cost the club even more than his trips to England.
      This is despite Man Utd’s debts standing at around £250million, with dividends continuing to be taken out by the Glazer family.
      And supporters are furious after finding out the club have been paying for Glazer’s extortionate flights.
      Reacting on social media, one said: “I truly cant believe this is allowed.”
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      Another added: “Nah but how do you spend 250k on a trip.”
      A third replied: “Scandalous. Using club debt again.”
      And a fourth responded: “No shame whatsoever.”
      Glazer watched the Women’s FA Cup final with his daughter Libby.
      After the game, he refused to answer questions from journalists regarding the sale of the club – with the process ongoing.
      Briton Sir Jim Ratcliffe is understood to have submitted the preferred bid ahead of Qatari banker Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad al-Thani. More

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      Man Utd score dramatic injury-time winner against fierce rivals City to send title race with Chelsea down to the wire

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      MARC SKINNER says Manchester United will focus on hunting down Chelsea after their dramatic defeat of ten-player City.Lucia Garcia struck at the death to keep the WSL title race alive.
      Lucia Garcia roars with delight after nicking victory at the deathCredit: Getty
      Garcia keeps her cool to sink City and keep the title race aliveCredit: Getty
      But the Blues need to beat bottom side Reading on Saturday to wrap up a fourth successive crown.
      United’s win meant they qualified for the Champions League for the first time in their history.
      However should the Royals pull off a surprise win against Emma Hayes’ side and United beat Liverpool, Skinner’s team will be crowned champions.
      Boss Skinner said: “For me it is about hunting Chelsea now.  
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      “We may not have the budget they have, but I am going to try my hardest, with every single second that I have with this team to now move to first place.
      “There were a lot of doubters last year. But this season we have stayed true to what we want to do.
      “We have one more game to win. Yes we have already made history, broken records, gone to our first Cup final and qualified for the Champions League.
      “But if you settle at that then I am not doing my players the service they deserve.”
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      United took a second-minute lead with Hayley Ladd lashing home from distance.
      City struck the woodwork via Chloe Kelly’s volley before keeper Ellie Roebuck saw red close to half-time for clattering Nikita Parris.
      The visitors had strong penalty appeals rejected but levelled when  Filippa Angeldahl’s cross crept into the net.
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      However, Garcia won it for United in injury-time.
      City chief Gareth Taylor said: “We needed a little bit of good fortune and we certainly didn’t get it from the referee.
      “It’s a stonewall penalty with Bunny Shaw.
      “We knew today that a draw would have been OK, a defeat is not good. 
      “When you are in that situation and the chips are down, and the game is going against you particularly when you are a player less, we had to go for it. 
      “We did, so I’m really proud of the girls. Sometimes things don’t go your way in life and particularly in football.” More

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      Hayes hails Eriksson’s ‘fairytale’ finish to Chelsea career as Blues skipper nets during defeat of Arsenal

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      EMMA HAYES saluted Magda Eriksson’s fairytale finish to her Blues spell as Chelsea made it a tough day for Arsenal with their 2-0 win. The Sweden star’s first – and potentially last – WSL goal helped move her side within touching distance of a fourth successive title.
      Magda Eriksson doubled Chelsea’s lead against Arsenal with her last goal for the team at KingsmeadowCredit: Getty
      Eriksson and Pernille Harder are set to make their final Chelsea appearances in the Blues last WSL game next SundayCredit: Getty
      Emma Hayes’ players will face Reading in their final game this seasonCredit: Getty
      The Blues’ home victory saw them avenge their Conti Cup final loss to Arsenal.
      It also derailed the Gunners’ top three hopes before Manchester City’s trip to neighbours Man United this evening. 
      And Eriksson and Pernille Harder made their penultimate Blues appearance with the duo leaving Chelsea as free agents this summer. 
      Hayes said: “This is so fitting (that) of course she’s scored today. 
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      “Everybody wanted that fairytale for her. She has been our captain and leader. 
      “I know the work that has gone on behind the scenes to get the team to where it is. 
      I just looked onto the pitch and all I see is the years of work in the background. 
      “The meetings, the analysis, the disagreements, the good times and the moments you’re sick looking at each other. 
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      “It’s all of those things. And this team has a habit of peaking when it matters. 
      There’s three senior leaders in our team (in Magda, Millie Bright and Maren Mjelde).
      “I think it’s important that the baton is passed on through them.”
      Stina Blackstenius went close to netting for Arsenal in the first halfCredit: Getty
      Of Eriksson and Harder playing the final home game at Kingsmeadow, Hayes added: “They’ve had amazing years here and an amazing time. 
      “They’re not going to be here (from next season) and we have had a chance to replace them with something different.
      “It is not them, we can never do that. If there is going to be a separation, they want nothing more than to see Chelsea continuing to thrive. 
      “On that end it’s been good. I respect them both so much as people. I’m proud of them.”
      Before the game Jonas Eidevall spoke of Arsenal needing to “keep the ball well” if they were to stand a chance of beating their rivals. 
      While possession was fairly even in the first half it was Emma Hayes’ side who were the most ruthless in front of goal. 
      Blues warning signs came as early as the 10th minute with Sam Kerr seeing a goal disallowed as offside. 
      Moments later Stina Blackstenius threatened for the visitors going one-on-one with Ann-Katrin Berger forcing a fine block from the Blues goalkeeper. 
      The hosts had the upper hand in the first half with four shots on target converting twice within 41 minutes. 
      Guro Reiten slid home Chelsea’s opener following Eve Perisset’s cross in the 22nd minute.
      Frida Maanum came close to bagging an equaliser with Berger having to claw the ball from dropping into the net after spilling.
      And Eriksson made it 2-0 with a tap in after Kerr’s headed assist close to halftime.  
      Eidevall altered things in the second spell with Steph Catley on for Kathrine Kuhl and the Gunners gaining the upper hand in attack. 
      And they won a penalty that skipper Katie McCabe fired well wide of goal. 
      The hosts weather pressure from Arsenal to go five points clear at the top.
      And they could become champions if the Red Devils lose their clash with Manchester City this evening. 
      A City win could also  put Arsenal’s Champions League qualification hopes in jeopardy with the race going to the wire. 
      Jonas Eidevall’s side’s battle to qualify for the Champions League could go the last day of this season if Man City beat Man UnitedCredit: Getty
      Gunners boss Eidevall said: “My mindset has been that we need to do everything in every single minute of the season to try to finish as high as possible. 

      “Nothing changes because of today’s result.
      “If we look at it in a positive way, it should be in our own hands in control of our own destiny and that is the preference.” More

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      Arsenal star Vivianne Miedema calls on Fifa and clubs to tackle ‘ridiculous’ ACL injury epidemic in women’s game

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      ARSENAL star Vivianne Miedema has called for clubs and Fifa to put more money and effort into tackling the epidemic of ACL injuries in female players.Earlier this month Austria international Laura Wienroither became the FOURTH Gunners player to suffer the serious knee injury this season – after Miedema, partner Beth Mead and England captain Leah Williamson.
      Vivianne Miedema has called for more to be done to stop the epidemic of ACL injuries in the women’s gameCredit: Getty
      It comes after injuries to three other Arsenal starsCredit: Getty
      Miedema has been out of action since DecemberCredit: Getty
      Miedema, 26, said: “There’s a bigger picture here. It’s not just us four, or just Arsenal.
      “With me and Beth included, more than 20 per cent of last year’s Ballon d’Or nominees are out with ACL injuries right now, which is ridiculous.
      “I’ve seen somewhere that so far this year in the top five leagues in women’s football in Europe, there have been 57 ACLs already. Something has to be done.
      “Fifa, for me, needs to take responsibility in this issue as well. They need to look at the calendar.
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      “We keep adding games left, right and centre, but we don’t have the time and investment that is needed to keep players fit right now.”
      Miedema says clubs, including Arsenal, must put more money into staff and resources so that female players receive the same level of support as their male counterparts.
      The Dutch international, who is yet to start running again after sustaining her injury in December, said: “The biggest change compared to a couple of years ago is that instead of playing 30 games a season, we now play 60. 
      “Our games are increasing but the budget, for example, for the medical team, for travel, for even the tactical team, they are not increasing.
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      “We now have a squad of 24 players on paper. We have two full-time physios. 
      “If you compare that with a men’s team, they would have nine or 10 full-time physios. 
      “We get put under the same stress but we don’t have the same facilities and circumstances around us.
      “That’s definitely something that clubs need to look at right now.”
      Arsenal are conducting their own study into the rash of ACL injuries.
      Female players overall are up to six times more likely to rupture the ligament in a non-contact situation than men.
      The limited research in the field suggests links to the menstrual cycle, with hormone levels at different times of the month affecting the stability of all joints, not just knees.
      But Miedema says the only common factor in the four Arsenal players’ ACL injuries was that they were all having a tough time off the pitch when they got injured.
      The WSL’s 78-goal record scorer said: “There are three main factors: mental health, which I think is the main one, the physical aspect of playing too many games, and then there is the menstrual cycle.
      “That is the triangle that we need to start looking into.
      “We are at risk, instead of being able to enjoy our game.
      “A lot of girls are worried about getting injured.”
      Miedema, Williamson and possibly Mead, three of the best players in the women’s game, will miss this summer’s World Cup.

      Miedema said: “It is a massive blow for us individually but also for the bigger stage.
      “You want your best players to be at the big tournaments.” More

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      Eidevall reckons injuries to Arsenal aces have made this season one of the toughest of his career

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      JONAS EIDEVALL admits Arsenal’s injury concerns have made this season one of the toughest of his coaching career. The third-placed Gunners visit Kingsmeadow later for a lunchtime duel with leaders Chelsea in their penultimate WSL game this season. 

      Jonas Eidevall’s players will be hoping for a repeat of the display that saw them beat Chelsea in the Conti Cup finalCredit: Getty
      A win for the Gunners could see the WSL title race go right to the wire if Man United beat Manchester City laterCredit: Getty
      However, they will be without the services of Lia Walti who became the latest first-team player to have their season ended by injury.
      Kim Little, Laura Wienroither, Leah Williamson Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema are their other key figures sidelined with hamstring and knee ligament concerns.
      But he expects Walti to be fit for the World Cup despite the crocked Gunners ace missing their final two fixtures.
      Eidevall, 40, said: “It definitely has been tough.
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      “It is tough to have players injured because you feel so much for them, but also to constantly have to come up with new solutions and prepare new ways.
      “It’s on different levels for me. One is to think forward, think about the next action, but still don’t forget that there is an individual and person behind every injury 
      “We need to take care and support that person as well as we can.
      “Another thing is to find solutions to be flexible in the way that we think.
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      “When you’re in the middle of it, just keep going one game at a time. There are two more games and then we’re done.”
      Walti was carried off on a stretcher during Arsenal’s 4-1 win at Everton on Wednesday after Aggie Beever-Jones’ late tackle caught her ankle.
      However Eidevall believes the midfielder will be ready to play for Switzerland, with her team facing the Philippines in a World Cup group stage opener on July 21.
      The Gunners boss added: “It’s not a multiple month injury so she should be able to recover well in time for the World Cup which is, of course, very important for her.
      “I’m very happy for her that it wasn’t more serious. I was afraid it could be, so this is a relief.”
      Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea will be the first time the rivals have faced each other since the Gunners’ 3-1 Conti Cup final win against Blues in March.
      And Eidevall expects his players will face a different performance, with their opponents having won their last five games across all competitions, scoring 20 goals.
      He said: “We have a flexible mind and will be prepared that it will be a Chelsea team that will look a little bit different than it did the last time out.”
      The match will see Pernille Harder and Chelsea captain Magda Eriksson making their final Blues appearances at Kingsmeadow, with the duo leaving the club.
      Magda Eriksson and Pernille Harder will play their final game at Kingsmeadow with the duo leaving Chelsea at the end of this seasonCredit: Getty
      And Emma Hayes is keen to see them get a good send off.
      The Chelsea boss said: “I’m proud of Pernille and Mags. As a football club it’s important we send players who meant a lot to us off in the way that we want.”
      Hayes’ Blues could retain the WSL crown with a win against Arsenal should Manchester United lose to Man City at Leigh Sports Village today. 
      Emma Hayes expects her team to face a tough challenge from Arsenal in their final London derby this termCredit: Reuters
      However is keen not to underestimate the threat posed by the Gunners. 
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      She added: : “We haven’t won anything.
      “We’ve got to play arguably one of the best teams in Europe this year and that will be extremely challenging.” More