Chelsea manager Emma Hayes dedicated Chelsea Women's FA Cup triumph over Manchester United to the club's 'suffering' fans following a volatile year of underwhelming performances from the men's side and a disjointed change in ownership.
Sam Kerr's second-half goal proved decisive as the Blues lifted the FA Cup trophy for the fifth time in their history as they edged past WSL title-rivals Manchester United in front of a record British women's football domestic crowd.
A lethargic start to the match very nearly cost the defending champions as Leah Galton looked to have put Marc Skinner's side ahead inside the opening 20 seconds, only for Ella Toone to be ruled offside in the build-up. A difficult first-half followed in which Chelsea looked destined for another lost piece of silverware. But prescient second-half substitutions in Pernille Harder and Sophie Ingle shifted the dynamic of the match back into Chelsea's favour, and it was Harder who delivered her sixth goal involvement in her last three matches as she teed up Kerr for the game-winner in the 68th minute.
The victory puts Chelsea firmly in the driver's seat as they bid to claim a domestic double, with just one point separating the Blues with WSL leaders United while touting a game in hand.
And early in her post-match reflections, Hayes felt compelled to halt her praise of her side's resilience after a relentless season to send a message to the Chelsea faithful after an arduous year of transition.
"It will bug me if I don’t say this, I’m a football fan, and I watch how much my club has suffered this year with the ownership change, the men’s team hasn’t been brilliant, Chelsea fans, this [match] is for you," Hayes said.
"I hope you had a little bit of joy today, that we gave you something to smile about this year, the whole club, the owners included."
Where Chelsea's women's team are gunning for an unprecedented fourth successive league title under Hayes, Chelsea's men side have endured a torrid end to a frenetic campaign with any iteration of European football ruled out for next season and just one win in their last five under manager Frank Lampard.
The dire circumstances are in stark contrast to that of Chelsea Women, who have come to cut the convincing prototype of a domestic dynasty under Hayes, though the 46-year-old humbly denied the term.
Kerr once again proved the difference for Chelsea, and while Hayes had plenty of praise for her inimitable striker, it was Harder and Ingle's impact off the bench Hayes singled out.
"I’ve never coached a player like her," the Chelsea boss continued. "A player to have such conviction, such confidence, such courage. The way she attacks everything.
"What I love about Sam is that she’s willing to take responsibility for the team in the top-half of the pitch, but I think it’s important to mention Pernille Harder because without Pernille Harder she wouldn’t have gotten that goal and Pernille came in, did exactly what we’d asked and what we’d missed."
The Chelsea boss put her side's slow start down to the accumulation of games in recent weeks, a feature that has come to define Chelsea's seasons under Hayes as they routinely compete on all fronts but one that does not grow any easier, the manager insisted.
"When they scored, I thought it’s going to be a long game because nobody really understands – no one plays more games year on year than Chelsea," Hayes said. "It’s really hard. That was our third game in seven days. Trust me, it’s really difficult to play every three days again and again and to play high-octane football, whether that’s pressing, stretching.
"I thought the first-half we were off everything. Second to the ball, second to the first movements and sometimes you can look at some of this and ask whether it’s a tactical problem, but it’s the execution of the tactical work and that’s physical.
"And I said to the girls at half-time, listen, this is the grind. This is what it’s about. Only we know what this is like. We are the team that have done it year on year, grind and grind, compete on all fronts.
"The team that’s not in the Champions League has the advantage to win the league and I stand by that. Don’t underestimate how hard that is. I felt tired on the touchline. That’s why I refer to it as the grind, and for that reason, it’s more impressive, this team can dig and dig dig.
"Physically, we weren’t at our best today. I thought we grew in the second half, confidence with Pernille and Sophie coming in."
Chelsea return to action with a midweek WSL clash against West Ham before facing Arsenal in the penultimate weekend.
