18 November 2023 , 17:13
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Emma Hayes urged football authorities to protect the players after her Chelsea side played their third game in just six days.
Hayes, who will leave Chelsea at the end of the season to join the USWNT as manager, saw her side beat Liverpool 5-1 in the WSL on Saturday lunchtime. But it was a quick turnaround for the WSL holders, who only landed back in the UK at 4am on Thursday morning following their Champions League tie against Real Madrid, which ended 2-2.
The Blues had also played at Everton last Sunday. They eventually eased past Liverpool in the second half thanks to a Lauren James hat-trick.
But Hayes took the decision to leave captain Millie Bright out of the matchday squad to avoid her suffering burnout. And the Chelsea boss said her team could get greater help from the authorities to assist their continental challenge this season.
"We're the only English team in Europe (this season)" said Hayes. "Yet we're the only association that doesn't help its team in Europe. Spain do, France do, Germany do. We don't. And that for me is disappointing. We're working against ourselves. There's a rule in place that means you can put a Saturday game on at 1:30 for TV, because we've had two days between games.
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"But they aren't factoring in that we are getting in at half four in the morning. Why are we getting in then? Well there's drug testing so you can just leave. On that first day you're like a zombie and the second is just about getting your legs moving. If you get home at 4am in the morning, it screws a night's sleep.
"Don't we want an English team to progress in Europe? It's already hard enough. The rest of Europe look at us and think their league doesn't even help them. Don't you think it is a little bizarre that we're the only team to play this weekend after being the only team to play Wednesday and play Sunday night away from home?"
Chelsea's squad was pushed by the schedule, with Hayes making six changes from the team that played in Madrid. But, in welcome news to both England and Chelsea fans, she confirmed Bright's absence was down to her needing rest, rather than any injury.
"Millie's not injured," she added. "But I took a decision from a loading perspective, particularly with the surgery she had pre-World Cup and then played a World Cup and then had two weeks off.
"She's been playing, playing, playing and now she's playing again. Millie wanted to be out there running around. But I had to protect her from herself today."
Hayes returns to the States next summer more than a decade after departing with the responsibility of restoring the four-time World Cup winners to the pinnacle of the international women's game. But before then she has the small matter of aiming to win a first Champions League and yet another WSL title with Chelsea.
Lauren James scored a hat-trick as Chelsea got past Liverpool at Stamford BridgeAnd her team responded in style to a tough night in Madrid on Wednesday, hitting back after Liverpool had briefly threatened a shock result at Stamford Bridge.
"I was really happy to see the team carry out the ideas we'd been working on," added Hayes after the win. "We had a lot of youngsters and then I'm pleased for Maren and Sophie helping to guide the ship.
"Sophie is now a record breaker and that's real testament to what she's done in the game. So I'm really happy all round. There was no moaning (about rotation) everyone is right at it in training. That for me is the biggest difference so far this year, although we haven't won anything yet this year.
"I'm responsible for the attacking play and am really happy to see the team carry out the ideas we've been working on. I can see we're growing in confidence."
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