Emma Hayes, crowned top FIFA women’s manager on Monday, guided her Chelsea team back to winning ways with an all-important Conti Cup victory over West Ham in midweek.
It sets things up nicely for the Blues’ trip to face Hope Powell’s Brighton at Crawley in the WSL this weekend, with Chelsea’s women keen to do better than the men’s recent weary draw against the Seagulls.
Even better? Sunday lunchtime’s 12.30pm match between Brighton and Chelsea is live on BBC Two.
The fact that Wednesday night’s 4-2 win at West Ham included a Pernille Harder hat-trick, and a deserved headed goal for the hard-working Erin Cuthbert, delighted Hayes, who was just relieved to have her girls back in action after a five-week, Covid-prolonged gap.
“Oh my goodness... it’s so nice to play a game of football,” she gasped, admitting that her side had looked rusty without real-match practice. “Pernille had a fantastic game; she set the tone from the start.”
With the dynamic Dane linking well with Fran Kirby, the team breezed into the semis of the women’s League Cup, with the added bonus of Russian defender Alsu Abdullina making her debut in the club’s yellow away kit.
She came on for Jonna Andersson for the final quarter hour of the match in a rush of subs which also saw Drew Spence and Beth England get some welcome game time.
“I’m so happy for her,” Hayes said of Abdullina. “What an energy she’s got; she’s willing to learn... she’s keen.” The Blues manager was forced to use her new signing sooner than she’d hoped because of the way the pandemic has reduced her choices.
This is proving a golden age in terms of awards for the football club, with Chelsea winning an unprecedented double after both Emma Hayes and Tom Tuchel were crowned top FIFA coaches of their teams.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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