Emma Hayes praised the development of Ajax and said their rise had come as no surprise, as she prepared her Chelsea side for Tuesday night’s first leg of the Champions League quarter-final in Amsterdam.
Ajax became the inaugural Dutch team to qualify for the group stage in the current season. Despite being placed alongside strong opponents like Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Roma, they managed to secure three victories at their home stadium, the Johan Cruijff ArenA. Manchester City manager, Hayes, acknowledges that Ajax may be considered the underdogs in their upcoming match against Chelsea, but their potential cannot be underestimated.
The coach of Chelsea reflected on a pre-season match against the opposing team, which took place approximately a year and a half ago. The match was played in Portugal and ended in a draw. During the match, the coach mentioned to the general manager that he saw potential in Ajax becoming a strong team in Europe. It was not surprising to him that they have emerged as a successful team, as they have been nurturing their own talent and gaining experience through playing together.
Hayes specifically mentioned Sherida Spitse, who is currently suspended, as an excellent player representing Ajax’s high level of skill. Despite Spitse’s absence in tomorrow’s match, Hayes admires her as a fantastic football player. Ajax is a team with great aspirations in European competition and has already proven their abilities. As they have faced Ajax in the past, Hayes acknowledges their strength and will not underestimate them.
Hayes praised 16-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes from Ajax, recognizing her immense talent and impressive start with a top European team as a centre midfielder. He acknowledged her skill in making the final pass and her ability to escape pressure in tight areas. He also noted her exceptional vision and high level of execution. Despite her young age, Hayes was impressed by Yohannes’ maturity and described her as a gifted player.
During the group stage, Chelsea had a more successful journey, finishing at the top of Group D with 14 points. Their opponents were Häcken, Paris FC, and Real Madrid. The team also made additions to their Champions League roster, including Catarina Macario, Mayra Ramírez, and Nathalie Björn, in order to compensate for the absence of Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, and Mia Fishel due to injuries.
I have carefully managed Macario’s return after a 20-month absence, and she is now ready for her first start after three appearances as a substitute and scoring two goals. According to Hayes, “I am fortunate to have a highly experienced staff who have worked together to consider Cat’s medical record, time off the field after her last game, and the careful management of her return. Despite some challenges along the way, we have been able to handle this return efficiently.”
“Cat is a well-liked member of our dressing room and known for her charming and charismatic personality. I have noticed that she’s become more playful recently, as seen when she filled out a form for the Olympic roster and confidently stated, ‘Just pick me!’ While Cat is not fully recovered, she is close to being ready to start a game.”
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Chelsea’s manager, Emma Hayes, is granting her players an additional day off following their 3-1 victory against Arsenal on Friday night. This comes at a crucial time as their schedule continues to become more demanding. Hayes stated that out of their eight recent games, six were away games and three of them were played up north within just seven days.
The manager approached Erin Cuthbert, the midfielder, and requested her thoughts on the impact of having an extra day of rest. Erin replied, “I believe an additional day is crucial for a player, allowing more time for recovery and training. But most importantly, it’s a mental break over the weekend. Having my family with me also helped. Football can be incredibly intense, especially with a packed schedule. At Chelsea, we have high expectations of winning every game.”
Source: theguardian.com
