MX23RW : Thursday, March 28 18:02:24| >> :120:13518:13518:

Emma Hayes: 'Women's football is finally in the consciousness'

Emma Hayes: 'Women's football is finally in the consciousness'
© Reuters
Chelsea face Barcelona in Gothenburg on Sunday.

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has spoken about women's football being "finally in the consciousness" as she prepares to lead her team out in a Champions League final.

The Blues make their first appearance in the competition's finale, and only the second by an English club, 14 years on from the first, when they face Barcelona in Gothenburg on Sunday.

Hayes' side will bid to claim trophy three of a possible quadruple, a week after sealing the Women's Super League title with a 5-0 victory over Reading.

Asked about the impact she hoped Chelsea's performance will have in terms of inspiring youngsters, Hayes said: "I left the training ground the other day, one car drove in with a little girl in, she was somewhere between 10 and 12, and there was just this huge wave towards me.

"And I thought 'I've been driving out this gate nine years and I didn't get that wave before'. I then got to the next junction, another car came in, and exactly the same thing happened. And then I got to almost the exit of Cobham, and I got a third one.

"I remember thinking 'oh my goodness, these are our kids, these little girls are watching that game – yes!' That is what I want. They're watching that game, because you know what – they have role models. They have women to look up to.

"We're so behind on that stuff in this country. That's taken time. We talk about the growth of the women's game – the growth of role models...

"They sprinted home, I know they did, to watch that game, from wherever they were, and why? Because it is on the telly every week, it is in the papers, it's on the news. Hallelujah! It is finally in the consciousness.

"My mum said 'it still wasn't enough coverage' and I said 'you're right mum', because if it was a men's team that won there would be double and treble the amount. So we've still got some work to do."

Emma Hayes has enjoyed great success with Chelsea
Emma Hayes has enjoyed great success with Chelsea (John Walton/PA)

Hayes was involved when Arsenal won the European competition in 2007, as assistant manager. That role was followed by a stint working in America, before taking charge at Chelsea in 2012, and the 44-year-old's subsequent tenure has included winning four WSL titles and two FA Cups.

Hayes was asked if she had aspirations at all for a life in politics after football, and she said: "I'd never say never. It's the career I wanted to do, but I became a football manager. But I also recognise there's a lot of politicking in this business too."

She was then asked what the first thing would be that she would change if she was Prime Minister, and said: "I would definitely make sure there was equal PE provision for girls in primary and secondary school sports. Not enough, I'm afraid.

"I would make sure there would be...an equal redistribution of wealth so that there's enough investment in women's sports, as there are men's. That's what I'd do."

ID:447661: cacheID:447661:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:5993:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Chelsea Women manager Emma Hayes pictured on April 25, 2021
Read Next:
Emma Hayes "excited" and "relaxed" ahead of Champions League final
>
Read more about Emma Hayes Football
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal28204470244664
2Liverpool28197265263964
3Manchester CityMan City28196363283563
4Aston Villa29175760421856
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs28165759421753
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd28152113939047
7West Ham UnitedWest Ham2912894650-444
8Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2811985044642
9Wolverhampton WanderersWolves28125114244-241
10Newcastle UnitedNewcastle281241259481140
11Chelsea27116104745239
12Fulham29115134344-138
13Bournemouth2898114152-1135
14Crystal Palace2878133348-1529
15Brentford2975174154-1326
16Everton2887132939-1025
17Luton TownLuton2957174260-1822
18Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest2967163551-1621
19Burnley2945202963-3417
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd2835202474-5014


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!