Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says it’s “business as usual” for her aspect as they put together for Saturday’s Super League finale, seeking to wrap up one other title.
Ahead of the season’s concluding spherical of fixtures, the Blues – who’ve gained the WSL 5 occasions and for every of the final three seasons – are two factors away from second-placed Manchester United, with a objective distinction higher by 5.
Chelsea, aiming to finish a league and FA Cup double, play backside aspect Reading away, whereas Marc Skinner’s United are at Liverpool.
Hayes instructed a press convention: “I think back to every campaign, we’ve only won the league by a couple of points at best, maybe (with) a game (to spare) somewhere along the line, so this is just business as usual for us.
“The preparation is what we’d prepared for at the very beginning of the season.
“It’s not like we’ve won leagues comfortably in the past – so nothing is different from our perspective. We’ve always known from previous experience it goes to the last game.”
A win to seal the title could be a seventh successive league victory for Chelsea, who’ve scored 24 objectives previously six video games, conceding as soon as.
It’s not like we have gained leagues comfortably previously – so nothing is completely different from our perspective
Emma Hayes
Reading, in the meantime, have misplaced every of their final 5 video games, conceding 16 occasions throughout their final 4.
The Royals pulled off a shock 1-0 win at dwelling in opposition to Chelsea final season, and Hayes stated: “We don’t think about that. What we think about is we are exactly where we want to be – a position to control the outcome.
“I have to keep reminding the team we’re 90 minutes away from winning the title and all of my energy’s focused on doing that.”
Regardless of what occurs on Saturday, United – assured at the least second, their first end in a Champions League berth – have had their greatest WSL marketing campaign to this point, as effectively making a debut FA Cup closing look, once they had been crushed 1-0 by Chelsea and Skinner has stated he feels his aspect don’t “get enough credit”.
Asked about that remark, Hayes stated: “They should. They’ve had an outstanding year. I’m sure Marc will build on that and make them even more competitive next year.”
Reading have to win to have any likelihood of surviving, mendacity two factors adrift of Eleventh-placed Leicester, who’ve an inferior objective distinction by three and go to Brighton.
Reading boss Kelly Chambers stated: “If you just give up now or don’t believe then, for me, what’s the point of stepping out there on Saturday?
“There’s still a glimmer of hope there for us and we just have to give everything we can. If we are beaten by the better team, I can accept that – what I can’t accept is that we don’t turn up and fight for everything.”
Third-placed Arsenal look set to seal the ultimate Champions League spot, at the moment three factors away from Manchester City and holding a objective distinction benefit over them of 11.
Jonas Eidevall’s Gunners host fifth-placed Aston Villa, whose 21-goal ahead Rachel Daly was named WSL participant of the 12 months on Friday, whereas Gareth Taylor’s City play Everton at dwelling.
It could be the primary time since 2014 that City have completed exterior the European locations.
Taylor stated: “It’s fine margins between being successful in the season like Chelsea and where we’re at coming up short.
“With the group we have and the support, if we can squeeze more out of these players with another season, it’s exciting times.”
Saturday’s different match sees West Ham entertain Tottenham.
Meanwhile, in keeping with Football Association statistics launched on Friday, WSL attendances are up 173 per cent this season in comparison with the final, with the 2022-23 common being 5,272, up from 1,931.
The cumulative attendance for the present WSL marketing campaign stands at 664,211, and all the three highest-ever WSL crowds had been achieved this season.
They had been 47,367 for Arsenal in opposition to Tottenham on the Emirates Stadium in September, 44,259 for Manchester City v Manchester United on the Etihad Stadium in December, and 42,700 for Arsenal in opposition to Chelsea on the Emirates in January.
