Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has labelled her current crop of players as "the best squad" she's ever worked with following emphatic victories over Tottenham and Real Madrid.
Hayes returned to the touchline last weekend, just five weeks after undergoing an emergency hysterectomy, as the Blues scored three without reply against Spurs. Almost 40,000 fans packed out Stamford Bridge as goals from Sam Kerr, Erin Cuthbert and Guro Reiten saw Chelsea return to the summit of the Women's Super League table.
Hayes' side followed up their crucial league win when they welcomed Real Madrid to Kingsmeadow on Wednesday night, with goals from Cuthbert and Sophie Ingle ensuring the Blues extended their triumphant European run and moved five points clear at the top of their group.
Reflecting on her team's impressive display against the Spanish giants, Hayes said : "Look at my group, look at the leaders in my group, look at the quality level they have been playing at not just for us but for their countries.
"I thought two years ago we had a decent amount of experience. This team is at another level.
"This is the best squad we have ever had and the learnings from last year [when Chelsea exited the Champions League at the group stage] help, the learnings from losing in the [2021] final help, winning the domestic titles help. It’s the combination of all of those things."
Chelsea secured a domestic double last season and could claim their fourth consecutive WSL title should they continue their excellent form this term. And Hayes believes her side's previous experience of winning titles gives them extra motivation to fight for silverware on all fronts.
"There's always a hunger to this team," she said. "I know the people, they wouldn’t allow anything less, but sometimes it's got to be more than just hunger and desire.
"We've got the quality to be able to come through these games. We’ve got the quality to do it, the experience to do it, and I can see the team going in the direction we want them to. I can really see improvements across the board in some of our play."
Reflecting on the importance of making Kingsmeadow a fortress, Hayes said: "It's a bit like any of us, when you go home you don’t think about it, it is just your home.
"Weirdly, I felt Stamford Bridge was and we don't play there an awful lot, but that felt like going home at the weekend. As [assistant coach] Denise [Reddy] always says, this is not our first rodeo.
"We've been around and done quite a lot in the last few years. Nothing feels like a surprise or new and I quite like that feeling."
She added: "I feel like we are all focused on what we have to do. I've seen confidence and the intention from the team and that is what I am enjoying as the coach at the minute."
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