It has not been an easy few weeks for Chelsea.
Just a few days ago, they were dreaming of reaching a Champions League final after coming closer than many thought they would in a semi-final tie against Barcelona. Now it’s back to Blighty, reality and the not-quite-so-dazzling lights of the Women’s Super League.
That unfamiliar feeling of defeat that Emma Hayes’ side had to deal with last week has had to be quickly extinguished. They are far more used to the task in hand: to chase down a fourth successive WSL title and yet another domestic double.
The strength and title-winning experience Chelsea boast has led to the obvious assumption they will win all of their games in hand and, eventually, overhaul league leaders Manchester United. That belief is so strong that much of the focus of the build-up to Wednesday’s game against Liverpool was on the free hot dogs offered to Chelsea fans as an apology for the embarrassing postponement of this original fixture back in January, when the pitch was frozen and deemed unplayable.
This Liverpool game felt like a rudimentary step towards Chelsea’s ultimate goal, the first of three games in hand the reigning champions have on United and one of seven matches they have to play in the next 25 days.
Emma Hayes on the touchline…
