Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that she is excited to begin her tenth campaign in charge of the South West Londoners at Arsenal this afternoon.
The Barclays FA Women’s Super League champions face a significant test against an Arsenal side who have recruited impressively this summer and that have already shone in Europe.
Speaking in her pre-match press conference, Hayes played down the importance of the Arsenal fixture, stating that she was simply excited to start her tenth campaign in charge of The Blues.
“I’m just looking forward to the season to be honest;” Hayes said. “It has been a really lovely pre-season and I am really proud of the achievements of the players, going away to the Olympics, we have a Gold Medalist in our camp.
“I’m just excited to kick-off my tenth season here at Chelsea.”
Reflecting on a memorable decade at the helm, Hayes said that she never expected to be with the club for so long but she is living every day as it comes.
She added “I didn’t think I would do this for 10 years, I never, ever envisaged that I’d do this for 10 years. Before you ask me whether I’ll do it for another 10, I don’t know.
“What I have learnt is that I just stay so present all the time and that my objective this year is that I am really going to enjoy every minute of the year and of course compete.”
Chelsea’s fixture at Arsenal will be the second game to be broadcast on Sky Sports this weekend and Hayes believes that that TV deal will pay dividends in the coming years.
“Everyone has worked for this, there’s not one person who has worked over another;” Hayes said. “I think of all of those people in the background including the media have put hours into building the women’s game to where it is. Year-on-year, it is getting better and better.
“Do I think that this year is any different to the last two? Yeah, the broadcasting thing is standalone, it’s one of the biggest opportunities that we have been presented with in our game. I am pretty sure that in two years’ time, it’ll be reviewed further and we will be talking about another step in our revolution.
“As a fan of the women’s game and someone who has been devoted to the women’s game for my whole life, I am just excited for every team this weekend in what is another step in moving us into the upper echelons of professional sport.”
The Barclays FA Women’s Super League fixture between Arsenal and Chelsea is scheduled to kick-off at 12.30pm and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. Fans can still buy tickets for the match by clicking here.
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