Hayes’ train keeps rolling: lessons from Chelsea Women’s win over Spurs
Blues show growth, and the ability to shine once again within a pressure-filled atmosphere
The Women’s Super League may not be Chelsea’s No. 1 priority this season, but after a day where its rivals failed to perform in front of over 40,000 fans in the league, the Blues demonstrated, just like in Paris a few weeks ago, the stage or number of people watching on gives them even more of a drive to take their game to the next level. Other than Harder being forced to the sideline due to an injury during the international break, everything was beginning to go back to normal for Chelsea.
There is no doubt Hayes being back on the touchline added more comfort to the performance as a whole, but to piece together that brilliant of an outing in front of the most home fans in Chelsea Women’s history is something that is worth recognizing. There was so much build-up to this match at the Bridge. The passing of Her Majesty the Queen at the beginning of the season forced the Blues to move the fixture back over two months. Hayes’ team did not collapse in the final minutes in front of a record WSL crowd like the Gunners did the day before, the Blues simply left Stamford Bridge with another three points added to the season total as the confidence continues to grow game by game.
Having known that Arsenal dropped all three points at home could have placed a whole lot of stress on the minds of the players, especially in front of a historical amount of fans for the Chelsea Women, but just like they have all season, and towards the end of last season, the composure of this team when it needs a result the most is at its highest point.
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Real Madrid under the London night sky this Wednesday in the Champions League awaits Chelsea. Against a top team in Europe like Real Madrid, the atmosphere is bound to be spectacular, but with the number of professional performances the Blues have put together with the pressure to keep up with Arsenal at the top of the table, this should be just another game for a team with ambitions of fighting for the continent’s top honor.