Building A Blue Dynasty? (Emma Hayes interview)

Seven years into the job, Emma Hayes argues Chelsea are closer to Europe’s summit than people think. She points out the club were not in the Champions League at all until four years ago, that experience of the competition cannot be shortcut, and that a missed penalty was the margin by which Lyon went through against them in the 2018/19 semi-final. Top talent is coming to England now rather than being stockpiled at Lyon and Wolfsburg, she says, and the changing of the guard is getting closer. On her own squad she is instructive rather than sentimental: Beth England needed rejection and a loan move to build resilience, and hardships and diverse journeys are necessary for players. She also cheerfully defends her heavily Scandinavian recruitment, and says she needs a Dane next.