Being competitive year-on-year the most important factor for Chelsea boss Hayes | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that being competitive year-on-year is the most important factor for her side ahead of their 2020/2021 Vitality Women’s FA Cup final against Arsenal on Sunday.

The Blues will complete the treble if they can see-off The Gunners but Hayes has directed the focus away from that potential feat, commenting that prolonged competitiveness makes her the most proud.

When speaking in her pre-match press conference, Hayes said “We are always competing for trophies each year so yes, this is a trophy which contributes to last year’s success and it’s one that we want to win but I don’t think that we will be defined any more by winning it.

“We are a successful team, we are competitive team, year-on-year we compete for every single title, that’s what I am most proud of because it is really difficult to stay at the top end.”

Chelsea were defeated 3-2 by Arsenal at The Emirates Stadium on the opening day of the Barclays FA Women’s Super League season but Hayes went on to say that little can be taken from that game.

She said “That game was such a long time ago and I think of the number of games that we have played since then and I look at the evolution of our team from that game and we have got better in every area. It’s not because we were poor, it was because it was the first game of the season and we had been together for less than eight sessions.

“It will be a great final, two great teams, quality on show. I know that this is an incredible group of women that we represent and I am just looking forward to leading them out again.”

Sunday’s final is likely to be played out in-front of around 50,000 fans at Wembley. The Football Association are targeting a sell-out by 2024 as part of their three-year growth strategy and Hayes said that she believes that this is achievable.

“Yeah I do (think it is achievable),” Hayes said. “I think that COVID isn’t helping but maybe if we get the build-up right for next year’s FA Cup, especially with it being a EUROs year, I certainly think that you can aspire towards that.”

The 2020/2021 Vitality Women’s FA Cup final takes place at Wembley Stadium at 2pm on Sunday afternoon. Tickets remain on sale and can be purchased by clicking here.