Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that departing midfielder Ji So-yun is a unique player who cannot be replaced like-for-like.
The club announced earlier today that the South Korean international’s eight-year stay with The Blues will come to an end this summer. Ji has won no less than 11 domestic trophies with the South West Londoners while she has scored 68 goals in 208 appearances in all competitions in a Chelsea shirt.
When speaking to FAWSL Full-Time following the announcement, Chelsea boss Hayes hailed Ji as a one-off whilst commenting that she could never recruit a direct replacement for the player.
“You can’t replace Ji,” Hayes said. “What I have learnt in life is not to replace people with like-for-like, it is not something that I ever like to do.
“Ji is unique, special, a one-off and she has been instrumental in our success to this point but I am also optimistic that the quality of the other players that we have got will also play a key role in our future. We will take everything that we can from the time remaining with Ji and focus on the quality of the players that we have here, not to try to replace anyone with like-for-like.”
Speaking about life at Chelsea after Ji, Hayes went on to say that some of the club’s young players must look to continue her legacy, making special reference to Jessie Fleming and Lauren James.
She said “Ji has been a part of this family for eight years and she has watched this club go from semi-professional status to full-time to Champions League finalists and serial winners domestically, she has been a key part of that.
“I know I will miss her, I’ve had a great relationship with Ji. We’ve had some tough conversations in the last few months but I think it is important to remember that Ji has been without doubt the best international player to come to the WSL, she really has and she has been an important cog of this team. She is also going to pass on vital knowledge to the next generation coming through in Jessie Fleming and Lauren James, I think we have got players that were brought into this club that we see as critical for our future.
“Ji goes with our blessing and I think that the time is right for her to live another challenge. We leave each other in the best possible place, she will always be a very important part of this family.”
The midfielder could next feature for Chelsea when they travel to St Andrew’s to face Birmingham City on Sunday evening.