Chelsea manager Emma Hayes conceded the Women’s Super League title after her side’s dramatic 4-3 defeat to Liverpool, meaning she is set to end her historic spell with the Blues without farewell trophy.
The Blues endured a horrible last month after suffering defeats in the Champions League, FA Cup semi-final and Continental Cup final – and their season got even worse when Gemma Bonner scored a winner in injury time for Liverpool despite Chelsea equalizing twice.
No team in the WSL has ever won the title after losing three games in a season and Hayes believes Man City, who are six points clear with two games remaining, having played a game more than Chelsea, will win the league this season.
“I have incredible memories of this football club and we have won a lot of things and I would love to win titles again for Chelsea. But it won’t be this year, I’m afraid. My job now is to prepare the team for the final matches to continue competing and enjoying.
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Watch highlights of the WSL clash between Chelsea and Liverpool at Prenton Park
“We will never give up, but the title is far from us. It is not in our hands. City deserve it, their consistency has put them in this position. We will go all the way but I don’t think the title will be we will join this year.
Chelsea held a 1-0 lead at half-time thanks to Aggie Beever-Jones’ opener, but the Blues conceded four goals in the second half – including three from corners – as Liverpool turned the game around.
Hayes refused to blame any of his players for the defeat, having seen his team reach the latter stages of all four competitions.
“I’m not going to be hard on the players, for years they have done a lot for this football club and for me,” she added.
“And I know they want to win the title, but me being me, you can’t concede three set goals, four at half-time and expect to win a football match. That’s why we’re on the losing side , but I’m going to be nice to my players after everything they’ve done, I don’t want to be too hard on them.
Carney: Hayes is defeatist – not like her
Chelsea are now five points behind WSL leaders Manchester City with just one game in hand.
Aerial sports Pundit Karen Carney has described the concession of the league title to Hayes as “bizarre” and believes the Chelsea manager’s early announcement had an impact on her side’s late-season collapse.
Carney also made comparisons between Hayes’ situation and that of Jurgen Klopp at Liverpool. Klopp announced his end-of-season exit in January and his team went from quadruple hopefuls to just one trophy.
“You have games left and Arsenal still have to play City, but you’ve told the world it’s over, which isn’t usually like her. I find that quite bizarre. Although I agree with her that I think it’s City’s match.
“Of course they had four competitions and injuries, I always thought Chelsea could find a way. I didn’t feel that today.
“There is something in the psychology of Jurgen Klopp and Emma Hayes. There are a lot of synergies, both announced they were leaving earlier, there is a subconscious in there that they will not be there. And it’s disturbing.
“It’s not ideal, you have to be happy and play football. All the noise plays a role. I think his early departure was a factor for the team. For someone who was, not perfect, but everyone went to her on every subject, sometimes you can’t have a perfect ending.
“I don’t think you can ignore the elephant in the room. There are too many unusual things. It’s different, it doesn’t seem right.”
Asked if the title race was over for good, Carney replied: “It’s not a given and Arsenal have a lot to say about it. I just think City have been so good.
“They have been so consistent. Alex Greenwood and Lauren Hemp have been phenomenal. Collectively there is the feeling again. Arsenal will make things difficult.
“But there is already a defeatist side to Chelsea. It just says: ‘Here we go, City’ and they need to seize that now.”
