The Barclays Women’s Super League fixture calendar has thrown up another huge game this weekend as Chelsea host Manchester United at Stamford Bridge.
In what is a highly-anticipated clash in South West London, Barclays Women’s Super League leaders Chelsea will be looking to continue their dominance against a Manchester United side that have work to do in fourth.
Despite a hiccup against Arsenal in December, Chelsea still went into the Christmas break at the league summit. The Blues remain the title favourites but manager Hayes wants no complacency from her side in the second half of the season.
“Sometimes, we think to ourselves that we’ve been here before and therefore we know how to do it going forward,” Hayes said when speaking in the pre-match press conference. “I don’t believe that. I do think it gives you some knowledge but the reality is that we are playing against hungry teams who are looking to take that title off of us.
“Do I think it’s different this year? Yes, because we’re top, we’ve usually been in second in this position but that doesn’t change our thinking or our approach, it just means we’re top at this moment in time and that’s it.”
Chelsea’s opponents Manchester United have faced an undesirable first half of the season. Despite The Red Devils having already dropped 12 points in their league campaign so far, Hayes remained firm in her belief that Marc Skinner’s side are not to be underestimated.
She said “They know how to stay in that race and there are still many turns to happen across the rest of the season. I think they certainly have more goal threats than they’ve ever had, so I don’t underestimate Manchester United. For sure, they are still in the title race considering the number of players they’ve signed and the quality that they’ve got amongst their ranks.”
Chelsea’s Barclays Women’s Super League fixture against Manchester United kicks-off at 12.30pm. Tickets remain on-sale and can be purchased by clicking here.