3 takeaways as Chelsea Women coast past Reading to hoist fourth straight title

1. Proving to be mentally strong once again on final day of season

In the middle of one of the worst season in the men’s team history, the Chelsea Women have consistently been an example of what it takes to bring it day in and day out. No matter what team it is, or the situation, Hayes always has her team ready for whatever is going to be thrown at them. The Royals with their backs against the wall did not provide much threat, but for the fourth season in a row, the Blues pulled together down the stretch to clinch the league title.

No matter how many trophies are in the case for the women’s team in west London, Hayes has created a culture where their satisfaction is never met. The gap between them and the rest of the pack in the WSL is getting smaller and smaller each year, but it is still quite clear which team runs the league. The mental toughness it takes to go out there week after week knowing that one slip up in the month of May could cost the title at the end is something that does not get talked about enough. Even with the new players and departures, Hayes makes them fit right into the mold that at the end of the tunnel leads to winning.

Millie Bright explained it well on Sky Sports post match during the celebrations:

Hayes is the heartbeat of this club, and under her leadership, the team has elevated themselves into a new atmosphere. You can see the passion in Hayes’ eyes when Kerr found the back of the net in the first half. Winning is in her DNA, and no matter what it takes to get there, she will have her team prepared. The idea that this team has been described as “mentality monsters” perfectly sums up the kind of consistent pursuit of excellence that is engrained in the club’s values.