Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that it means everything to have sold out Wembley for this afternoon’s Vitality Women’s FA Cup final.
The Blues will take on Vitality Women’s FA Cup final debutants Manchester United at the national stadium. The game was officially declared a sell-out last month with almost 90,000 tickets sold. It is the first time that a Vitality Women’s FA Cup final has been the subject of such high demand, the previous attendance record came last season as 49,094 were present to witness Chelsea’s 3-2 extra-time victory over Manchester City.
Chelsea manager Hayes has long campaigned for a sold out Vitality Women’s FA Cup final and she is delighted to now be able to witness that feat in person this afternoon.
“For me, as a women’s football fan, it means everything (to sell out Wembley),” Hayes said when speaking in the pre-match press conference. “I’ve sat here on numerous occasions over the last 10 years championing and intentionally pushing, prodding, probing, demanding because I always knew that it wasn’t far away.
“I was probably disappointed that the crowd wasn’t bigger last year. With the Lionesses winning (the EUROs), I always knew that then there could be no excuse this year from anyone.
“This is the new normal, so hopefully, we are talking about putting semi-finals in neutral venues next year and make that a bigger event because that’s the next evolution for the game.
“Everyone connected with the women’s game should be proud.”
Chelsea are the current Vitality Women’s FA Cup holders and have won the competition on four occasions. Whilst latest opponents Manchester United are final debutants, Hayes believes that history counts for nothing.
She said “Previous success is not indicative of future success. We are playing an outstanding team that have led the way in the league this year and are deserving to be in the cup final.
“We won the final last year but I actually thought that Manchester City played better than us. Being there in the past gives you the luxury of understanding what it is like but it is no advantage whatsoever.”
The 2022/2023 Vitality Women’s FA Cup final kicks-off at 2.30pm.
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