Emma Hayes says it is "business as usual" for her Chelsea side ahead of their WSL final day title showdown with Man Utd.
League champions for the last three years, Chelsea will retain their crown if they beat Reading, who themselves need a win to avoid the drop to the Championship. If they slip-up, Man Utd could overhaul them at the top of the league, but they will need to beat Liverpool away from home.
But Chelsea are experienced when it comes to doing the business when the race goes to the wire, having won the WSL three times on the final day. And manager Hayes is relaxed that her side are in control of their own fate.
"I think back to every campaign," said Hayes before the trip to Reading. "We have only ever won the league by a couple of points at best, maybe a game somewhere along the line, so this is just business as usual for us. It’s what we had prepared for at the very beginning of the season.
"What we think is we are exactly where we want to be. We are in a position to control the outcome. Everybody, staff, players, has worked so hard to get to this point.
"Maintaining the focus, the concentration and the consistency is all I’ve been interested in with them all week, making sure we are in a position to perform tomorrow, so everybody knows their roles, their tasks, and we are in the best mindset. I think we are.
"We do that consistently well. I am looking forward to seeing a really strong Chelsea fanbase in the crowd, I’m going to encourage the supporters to come."
Hayes also gave an update on former Royal Fran Kirby, who will miss the final day showdown through injury, but signed a new contract extension at Kingsmeadow earlier this week. Kirby will also miss the World Cup finals this summer, but Hayes believes the summer off will do her good and believes she will come back stronger next season.
"We’ve really missed Fran," added Hayes. "I’ve made no secret in the past what a wonderful player I think she is.
"I’m looking forward to her getting a pre-season under her belt. She is one special talent, generational. For us to have her back hopefully fit, flying, fresh, will feel like a new signing for us next year."
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