It’s FA Cup quarter-final time for Chelsea’s women (and men) this weekend, although the consequences of war in Ukraine puts everything in the shade.
Emma Hayes’ team host Birmingham on Sunday lunchtime, a day after the men travel to the North East to face Middlesbrough.
It means another match at Kingsmeadow where no programmes can be sold, and fans who haven’t bought tickets well in advance will be locked out.
The Blues’ income streams have dried up, and unless the sale of the club goes through quickly, Chelsea will struggle to meet an eye-watering weekly wage bill.
Whether Emma Hayes, or Thomas Tuchel, will still be in post at the start of next season remains in doubt, with Manchester United reportedly interested in Tuchel, and any number of clubs – male and female – likely to be circling for Hayes.
There was a strange, slightly surreal, atmosphere at Kingsmeadow last weekend, where Aston Villa held on until stoppage time before succumbing to a Sam Kerr goal.
The Aussie striker was booked by ref Abi Byrne for whipping off her shirt and spinning it round her head... like a young Ryan Giggs famously did to celebrate a goal back in 1999.
Only Villa keeper Hannah Hampton’s heroic goalkeeping kept out repeated Chelsea attacks in the match, with scouts and observers from fellow Midlanders Birmingham watching closely as they attempt to replicate the defensive tactics this weekend.
The late Kerr goal means that the Blues maintain their pursuit of Arsenal, who also won in the WSL.
It all prompted a curious response from Hayes, suggesting that the world had it in for Chelsea. “Everybody’s against us right now, and that’s giving us strength… knowing that we’ve got each other and that everyone has contributed to the win today,” she said.
“After the week we’d just had, we had a hatful of chances but just couldn’t convert... so you win championships when you win games like that; there was amazing spirit and camaraderie among the players.”
Fran Kirby should be back in contention for a place on the bench against Birmingham City, after a prolonged absence which has left her feeling weak.
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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