Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that it is important for her side to draw on their experience when they face Ajax in the first leg of their UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final.
The Blues travel to the Johan Cruyff Arena to face the Dutch side on Tuesday evening. Ajax have been one of the most eye-catching teams in this season’s UEFA Women’s Champions League and they are set to appear in the quarter-finals for the very first time.
When speaking in the pre-match press conference, Chelsea boss Hayes highlighted the dangers of Ajax’s attack and said that pulling on previous tournament experience will be key.
“They’ve come through what some said was the group of death,” Hayes said. “They’ve come through with strong results and strong performances, they play the Ajax way.
“For us, we know that we have to be wary of so many of their threats going forward. I think [Romée] Leuchter down the middle is an outstanding player and [Chasity] Grant on the right has caused all sorts of trouble for defences this season.
“I think for us, one of the things that you get when you’re experienced in this competition is that know-how to put as much focus and effort on yourself first. When you have such little turnaround, we’ve only had one day to prepare for tomorrow’s game, the players’ experiences of being in this tournament have to count because it is intimidating playing in-front of 35,000 people in a tight arena.
“For us, let’s draw on our experiences because it is important that we come through tomorrow’s tie in a really strong position.”
Hayes went on to say that she has been aware of Ajax’s development for some time. Chelsea were held by the Dutch club in a pre-season friendly back in 2022.
She said “We played them in a pre-season [game] probably a year-and-a-half ago. We drew with them in Portugal, I think. It was a very closely-contested game and I remember saying to Paul [Green] that I could see Ajax becoming the next team coming through in Europe.
“It was of no surprise to me that they came through that because they’ve been developing their own talent, they’ve been playing together, putting the right experience in.
“I know [Sherida] Spitse doesn’t play tomorrow but I’m a big fan of hers, I think she’s a marvellous football player.
“I think they are a club that have serious ambitions in Europe, they’ve demonstrated that so far. Because we’ve played them before, we know how good they are, so we certainly won’t be going into it with our eyes shut.”
Chelsea’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final, first leg tie against Ajax kicks-off at 5.45pm on Tuesday evening.
About The Author
