‘They really deserve to be where they are’ – Chelsea boss Hayes reacts to UWCL draw | OneFootball

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says that she has been impressed with the club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-final opponents Ajax.

The Blues were handed a two-legged tie against the Dutch club when the quarter-final draw was conducted at UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland this afternoon.

Ajax are making their debut in the UEFA Women’s Champions League quarter-finals but Chelsea manager Hayes likes what she has seen from the Azerion Eredivisie Vrouwen side this season.

“They’re a really good team,” Hayes said when speaking in a Chelsea press conference. “I think we played them in a pre-season game last year and I was impressed with them then. They’re a great young group coming through and they really deserve to be where they are. It’s as tough a game as we could expect for a quarter-final but it is at this stage.

“It’s important for us going away in the first leg to use all of our experience because I think Ajax have proven themselves against top teams already. They really deserve to be where they are.”

Should Chelsea defeat Ajax over the two legs, they are likely to meet European champions FC Barcelona in the semi-finals. Hayes will not even contemplate that prospect until her side have got the job done in the quarter-finals.

She said “I would never ever be disrespectful to Ajax. If you’ve never seen them play, they’re an excellent team.

“My focus is on making sure that the team are prepared for that away leg.”

Chelsea travel to Amsterdam for the first leg of their quarter-final tie on 19/20 March 2023 before hosting Ajax at Stamford Bridge on 27/28 March 2023.