WSL champions visit Amsterdam in quarterfinals
Emma Hayes praised Ajax’s development, stating their rise is not a surprise as she prepared her Chelsea team for the first leg of the Champions League quarterfinals in Amsterdam on Tuesday night.
Ajax became the first Dutch team to reach the group stage this season, then escaped a group with Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain, and Roma with three home wins at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. They welcome Chelsea as underdogs, but their threat is real, Hayes said.
“We played a preparation game against them about a year and a half ago,” reflected the Chelsea manager. “We drew with them in Portugal, I believe. It was a very contested game, and I remember saying to [General Manager] Paul Green that I see Ajax as the next emerging team in Europe. It didn’t surprise me that they’ve made it because they’ve developed their own talent, they’ve played together, and they’ve gained the right experience.”
Hayes praised the suspended Sherida Spitse as an example of Ajax’s quality. “I know Spitse won’t be playing tomorrow, but I’m a big fan of hers, I think she’s a great footballer. I believe they’re a club with serious ambitions in Europe, they’ve shown that so far. Since we’ve played against them before, we know how good they are, so we won’t be going in with our eyes closed.”
Hayes also praised Ajax’s 16-year-old midfielder, Lily Yohannes. “It’s undeniable that Lily has immense talent, and to play for a top European team at the age of 16 in the central midfielder position just shows how much confidence the coaching staff has in her,” said Hayes. “Her final pass is exceptional. She has the ability to escape pressure well, especially in tight areas. But her vision, the quality of her execution is really high. Sometimes I don’t believe she’s 16 because she plays with so much maturity, but she’s a wonderful talent.”
Chelsea had a smoother group stage, topping Group D with 14 points ahead of Häcken, Paris FC, and Real Madrid. They were also able to include Catarina Macario and January signings Mayra Ramírez and Nathalie Björn in their Champions League squad to compensate for the absences of Sam Kerr, Millie Bright, and Mia Fishel due to injuries.
Macario’s return after a 20-month absence was a careful process, but she is close to making her first appearance after three substitute appearances and two goals. Hayes said, “I have a really experienced team working together to understand everything from Cat’s medical history to the time of wear and tear since her last game, and managing her return, albeit with some ups and downs, in a carefully thought-out manner.
“Cat is one of the most popular people in our dressing room, she’s so likable, so charming and charismatic. She’s even getting a bit cheeky, I’ve noticed in the last few days, she had to fill out this form to be included in an Olympic squad, and she said, ‘Now you just have to select me!’ But Cat is someone who’s not quite 100% fit yet, but she’s not far off starting a game.”
An additional day off for all her players after the 3-1 win against Arsenal on Friday night is very welcome as games pile up for Chelsea. “Six out of eight were away games, that was our March,” said Hayes. “Three of those were up north in a span of seven days.”
The manager then turned to midfielder Erin Cuthbert, asking her to describe the impact. “I think an extra day is really important for a player, more time to recover, for sure. Above all, it was like a mental reset over the weekend. I also had my family visiting. I think football can sometimes get really intense, and when you have so many games in a row, every game counts, and winning every game is an expectation at Chelsea.”
Discussion about this post