Women’s Super League: How Chelsea overcame injuries, Covid & pressure to win title

Chelsea have been here before. They have won WSL titles and often delivered when the pressure has been on.

A lot of that comes down to experience and that is something manager Hayes is not short of.

The Blues boss has now won six WSL titles with the club – including their first in 2015 – and it is not the first time her side have let it go down to the wire.

“It’s not easy to keep winning, it really isn’t. You have to earn that,” Hayes said earlier this season.

That was before Chelsea defeated Tottenham 3-1 with 10 players, after a 92nd-minute winner from Sam Kerr helped them beat Aston Villa in March.

“There have been a lot of great performances by my team but [the Spurs win] is right up there because it was with 10 players for that length of time,” said Hayes.

“The whole spirit, the effort, the determination – the whole thing from everyone involved showed the adaptability of the group.”

Cuthbert said a few weeks ago she felt there had “never been as much pressure” on Chelsea as there was this season due to competition from other sides in the WSL.

“It’s the most exciting year it’s ever been since I’ve been at Chelsea. Teams are pushing us all the way. Arsenal have done a great job this season but we’ve really fought back.

“Whenever we get kicked down we just get back up and that’s what I love about this team.”

That mentality and the ability to deal with pressure is something Hayes and her side have built over time – even key injuries to Eriksson and forward Fran Kirby did not dampen their spirits.

“Hayes draws on all of her experiences – her 10 years that she’s had at Chelsea,” said former England midfielder Fara Williams.

“She’ll tell you that she started slowly and didn’t understand players as well as she does now. She has really helped drag these players through that.

“It’s been a difficult couple of years [due to Covid] and she’s played a key part in helping these Chelsea players get through those moments.”