Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has criticised the Women’s Super League schedule for not giving English sides the best chance of success in Europe.
Chelsea were held to a 2-2 draw by Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, with the game kicking off at 8pm. They returned home in the early hours of Thursday morning, before facing Liverpool in the WSL at 1:30pm on Saturday.
Chelsea are the only remaining English side in this season’s Champions League and Hayes called on the Football Association to give WSL teams the best chance of progressing in the competition by considering player welfare when scheduling fixtures.
Hayes also called out broadcasters and league organisers for not understanding “the dangers” on players and believes it is a fundamental player welfare issue.
Her comments echo those made by Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall last season, who said his side and Chelsea’s Champions League progress had come “despite” the WSL schedule.
“Of course I’m going to hammer TV and the league today because I feel like nobody really understands how hard that is to do,” the Chelsea manager said. “I feel like we’re the only team in Europe, and yet we’re the only association that doesn’t help its team in Europe. Spain do, France do, Germany do but we…
