The Blues have overcome plenty and shown the resilience instilled by their departing coach to secure a fifth-successive title
A lot has been made of Emma Hayes’ final season in charge of Chelsea, which came to its climax on Saturday in the form of a fifth successive Women's Super League triumph. When a quadruple chase was reduced to that singular title race in a matter of four brutal weeks this spring, criticism was quick to arrive, and it will linger even despite this weekend's success. But to slam the Blues for a lack of achievement this term is to ignore the context of their season.
On the one hand, we are talking about a Chelsea team that had won nine of the 12 domestic honours available in the four seasons prior to this one, reaching the final in two of the three cups they failed to claim. As a result, they are held to higher standards than most and so to end the campaign with just one trophy does warrant questions, especially as it represents their worst season in five years.
But rather than giving any obvious causes for concern, the answers instead highlight what an impressive feat it was for Chelsea to even win this WSL title and send Hayes off to the United States on a high. There's no doubt that all involved will have wanted to rake in even more silverware, yet they have shown incredible resilience and grit in difficult circumstances to be crowned champions of England once again – and that is something that should be recognised.
GettyReshuffling at the back
There is no more obvious obstacle that Chelsea have had to overcome to win the WSL than injuries. Every team has them, sure, but the players Hayes lost for long spells this season made things remarkably tough.
Millie Bright, her captain, didn't start a game for six months because of a frustrating knee problem, and that first start back came after the team had already lost the Conti Cup final and been knocked out of both the FA Cup and Champions League. It means Jess Carter, still only in her first full season as a regular starter in the heart of defence, has had five different centre-back partners this term. That's not an area you want to chop and change in a lot, but Hayes has had no choice.
AdvertisementGettyNo.9 curse
Then there has been the awful luck in attack. Sam Kerr, Chelsea's star striker, went down with an ACL injury during a warm-weather training camp in January, and just a few weeks later, Mia Fishel, her back-up, suffered the same fate on international duty.
That Mayra Ramirez, the decisive performer in Saturday's title-winning win over Man Utd, has struggled to stay fit following a big January move from Levante has only rubbed salt into the wounds. As a result, there has been a lot of rejigging needed in the No.9 role, too, and other players have had to rise to the occasion, particularly with Kerr missing.
GettyThe kids are alright
That's where we have seen young stars come to the fore. Lauren James, at 22 years old, has regularly stepped up and delivered big goals to keep Chelsea in the hunt for success, as has Aggie Beever-Jones, two years her junior, in a breakthrough season that has ended with her first England call-up.
Carter's reliability in defence has been crucial given the aforementioned circumstances in that area, while Erin Cuthbert and Niamh Charles have shared the armband in Bright's absence and developed as leaders as a result, as well as setting the standard with their performances.
There have been fantastic first seasons from Sjoeke Nusken and Hannah Hampton too, both 23 years old, while Maika Hamano (20) and Catarina Macario (24) have also shown glimpses in their first steps as Chelsea players, the former coming through as a youngster who was on loan in Sweden last year and the latter off the back of almost two years on the sidelines.
GettyNew era
It certainly bodes well for the future that these younger stars are stepping up to the plate, as it is not only Hayes who is departing this summer. Fran Kirby and Maren Mjelde, two experienced players who have been essential to Chelsea's success over the last few years, will also leave the club, while Ann-Katrin Berger, No.1 for the past five years, exited earlier this season.
There is a slight changing of the guard going on, then, and so for so many of this next generation to have handled the pressure in this title race will have pleased Hayes as she aims to leave the team in a positive place for whoever follows in her shoes.