With 10 straight wins in all competitions under their belt, there seems to be nothing in the way of Emma Hayes and arguably the best team she had since taking over for Chelsea in 2012. Pernille Harder may be on the sidelines for a significant amount of time, but the way Hayes constructed this group during the summer makes it so the Blues can sustain injuries like this, and still compete at a high level. So far, Chelsea is making it clear there is no specific competition it is viewing as more significant than the other.
In the next league fixture at the King Power Stadium, the Blues will get the opportunity to give much-needed rest to players that have been on the pitch consistently in two games each week. Willie Kirk and the Foxes shaved off relegation last season by just two points, despite having the worst goal differential in the English top flight. Kirk’s team is currently sitting in 12th in the WSL on zero points but has pieced together several quality performances that should have earned Leicester City at least a point at the end of 90 minutes.
After CFC secured their third straight win in the Champions League, Hayes spoke on why this team is the best she has coached
"“There’s always a hunger for this team. I know the people, they wouldn’t allow anything less, but sometimes it’s got to be more than just hunger and desire. We’ve got the quality to be able to come through these games. We’ve got the quality to do it, the experience to do it, and I can see the team going in the direction we want them to. I can really see improvements across the board in some of our play.”"
The Foxes may have played in 10 contests so far this season, and only managed to defeat Championship side Blackburn Rovers, but the scorelines throughout the season have been closer than many would have thought. A 1-0 loss to Manchester United at home after Leicester was able to put the same shots on net as the Red Devils made many fans’ eyes raise. With the way the Blues are piecing together results so consistently both at home and on the road, this match should be used to attempt to goal differential ahead of Arsenal’s if it does come to that at the end of the WSL season.
As Fran Kirby continues to add more minutes to her tank since coming back from her injury, Hayes could see this as a game to rest the star midfielder for the midweek UWCL matchup on the road in Madrid. Bethany England did not receive a call-up to the English national team in the previous international window, and in the only time this season that she played more than 29 minutes on the pitch, England found the back of the net. Sam Kerr has played 61 or more minutes in seven straight matches in all competitions.
Rest and rotation may be the name of the game for Hayes on the road at the King Power in a matchup between the team at the top of the league and the club sitting in the basement heading in the month of December. Kirk’s side has scored five goals in all competitions this season, including 26-year-old attacker Natasha Flint finding the breakthrough against Reading before Leicester let the game slip away, allowing two goals by Rachel Rowe right at the death.
The Foxes are second to 11th in the league in both goals allowed with 17, and goal differential, ahead of Brighton and Hove Albion who are seeking to turn its season on its head. Since City won the Women’s Championship in the 2020/21 campaign, it is still seeking to find its footing in the top flight.
Despite nearly coming out of several matches with at least a point, LCFC have a whole lot of work to do in order to survive in the WSL for the second straight season. Leicester has played Hayes and the Blues a total of three times in its club’s history and has been outscored 18 to zero, losing in a resounding fashion each time.
The east Midlands outfit will have 13 days between their last match against Reading until a home contest against the determined Blues who are having no problem taking care of business both domestically, and around Europe. CFC has not looked past any opposition following the loss to Liverpool, and that mindset needs to travel to the King Power with the minds of the players may be looking ahead to a much bigger Champions League match just five days later at the Estadio Alfredo Di Stefano.