Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that she loves her side’s games against Manchester City, labelling them as ‘epic’.
Fixtures between Chelsea and Manchester City are known to be the most exciting games to watch in the English game with those clashes regularly providing lots of goals and late drama.
While the two sides are yet to contest a domestic cup final, the pair have regularly met in semi-finals and they do so again tomorrow when they contest a Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final at The Academy Stadium.
When speaking in her pre-match press conference in which FAWSL Full-Time were present, Chelsea boss Hayes said that fixtures against Manchester City are always games that she looks forward to.
“Both City and us know that the draw is going to go that way (pair the two sides together in the semi-finals),” Hayes said. “To win the cup, you have to beat everyone and I think we have had tough draws in every round.
“We have got to beat everyone if we are going to win it so why not (face them) in the semi-final.
“I always love these games because they are always epic. Although I have faced different coaches at different points at City, some of my favourite games ever were against Nick Cushing. I enjoyed them the most because I knew tactically, the two clubs were developing everything around the team to be the top teams in Europe and I have always enjoyed the battles that we have had.”
Manchester City have endured a tough start to the season as a result of a catalogue of injury problems but Hayes believes that The Cityzens still boast plenty of quality in their ranks and if anything, they have lacked a bit of luck at times.
She said “Everybody’s got full-time professional players and yes, they’ve lost top players but they’ve got great players that can come into the team and they have shown it in their 5-1 win against Everton that they are full of quality.
“I don’t think they’ve been as fortunate in front of goal, I think they’ve created a lot of chances.”
The Vitality Women’s FA Cup semi-final between Manchester City and Chelsea kicks-off at 12.45pm on Sunday afternoon and will be broadcast live on BBC One. Tickets for the match can be purchased by clicking here.