Emma Hayes does not believe the Champions League should define her Chelsea reign – Soccer News

Emma Hayes doesn’t consider her trophy-laden Chelsea reign must be outlined by whether or not she will be able to finish the membership’s look ahead to a maiden Ladies’s Champions League crown.

Blues boss Hayes is about to finish a profitable 12-year tenure in the summertime to develop into head coach of america girls’s workforce.

The 47-year-old has gained six Ladies’s Tremendous League titles and lifted the FA Cup 5 instances throughout her time in cost however continental glory has proved elusive.

Chelsea are on the right track to succeed in the semi-finals in Europe in Hayes’ swansong season, having constructed a 3-0 mixture lead going into Wednesday night’s quarter-final second leg at residence to Ajax.

UEFA Ladies’s Champions League: Chelsea vs Ajax. https://t.co/SJIHo0S24Y

— Chelsea FC Ladies (@ChelseaFCW) March 26, 2024

“After all, if I used to be capable of win the Champions League in my time right here I’m positive it might be one other unbelievable achievement,” she mentioned.

“However for my period to be outlined by one competitors might be not what issues most to me.

“What issues most – past the successful over time – is that I’ll depart the shirt in a greater place.

“That’s in all probability the factor I’m most invested in – to ensure that once I depart, the workforce is in a superb place and definitely in a greater place than once I took over and the place I can come again as a fan and luxuriate in them hopefully in lots of extra Champions League (campaigns).”

Chelsea got here near Champions League glory in 2021 earlier than struggling an emphatic 4-0 defeat to Barcelona within the last.

The Blues are poised for a possible semi-final rematch with reigning champions Barca this time period.

Who would be the last 4? #UWCL || #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/Tr6bWzvvSg

— UEFA Ladies’s Champions League (@UWCL) March 25, 2024

But, regardless of final week constructing a commanding first-leg lead in Amsterdam, Hayes insists it might be a “mistake” to miss an Ajax workforce with little to lose.

“The worry of dropping or the worry of not being in that semi-final is, for us, as huge a drive as it’s the need to win it, in reality it’s extra,” mentioned Hayes.

“There isn’t any-one in our dressing room that may take tomorrow’s recreation evenly or suppose for one minute simply because we’re successful 3-0 that the sport is over. That could be a mistake.

“All of it begins in your head, in your thoughts.

“And, when a workforce has nothing to lose, they play with freedom and otherwise to precise themselves and they’re usually probably the most harmful opponents so, for positive, we don’t take tomorrow evenly.”

Chelsea’s midweek appointment at Stamford Bridge comes 4 days earlier than the Continental Tyres League Cup last towards Arsenal at Molineux.

The Champions League returns to London. #UWCL pic.twitter.com/fTfWRSlRMH

— Chelsea FC Ladies (@ChelseaFCW) March 26, 2024

Preparations for the Gunners – the one English membership to have gained the Champions League following success in 2007 – stay on the back-burner.

“We solely play one recreation at a time; I’m not fascinated with Sunday,” mentioned Hayes.

“I’m fascinated with tomorrow. We all know Ajax are going to come back out and be aggressive. We’re anticipating that.

“Just one workforce advances, so we’re ready for the aggression from the opponent.

“They’re aspect and it’s necessary for us to maintain all of our focus and a spotlight on tomorrow.”