“It’s busy today isn’t it?” said Emma Hayes with a wry smile as she walked into the media room at Chelsea’s training ground in Cobham, on the outskirts of south west London.
Many had mused on how Hayes would manage her first public appearance since the announcement of her departure. It could have been an awkward exchange. Last Saturday, Chelsea had released a statement — which Hayes had not seen before publication — saying their manager would leave at the end of the season to pursue an opportunity outside of the Women’s Super League (WSL) and club football. But U.S. Soccer, strongly expected to be her new employer as reported by The Athletic, are yet to make her United States women’s national team (USWNT) appointment official. When asked, Hayes would not comment on her next role.
“You could read that statement and think I would be going off to be a pilot,” she said, tongue in cheek.
In what could have been one of her most difficult Chelsea press conferences to date, Hayes was… well, Emma Hayes: down-to-earth, personable and straight talking.
“I haven’t died,” she said. “I haven’t gone anywhere. I’m here, doing this job. My full focus and attention is on what I do for Chelsea… This is football, these things happen.”
It is evident Hayes is…
