Hayes savours Chelsea Ladies’ Wembley triumph

Chelsea Ladies manager Emma Hayes said her side’s dominant win against Arsenal made their second FA Cup better than the first.

Goals from Ramona Bachmann and Fran Kirby helped the Blues overcome Arsenal 3-1 at Wembley.

“I think this is more enjoyable than the first time around because that was such a dominant performance from us today,” Hayes said.

“We controlled it from the first whistle, we created chances, we were fluid and we looked like a team that have been building for a long time.

“The goals came at a perfect time and the quality of them showed the difference between the two sides.

“That is what happens when you have a team with good experience and good leaders. On the biggest occasions they show up.

“The last thing I needed was something too nervy and that was the most relaxed I’ve felt in a final in my entire career.”

Although Bachmann, who netted twice, and Kirby scored the goals, Hayes went on to pick out midfielder Katie Chapman, who won a record 10th FA Cup, as one of Chelsea’s most important players.

“I thought Katie was the best player on the park today – for someone who was chasing a 10th winners medal she led by example,” Hayes said.

“What Katie has in abundance is composure under pressure. It’s about managing the biggest games on the biggest occasions.

“She seems to like the FA Cup, she’s won it 10 times and she’s a greedy little cow for that.

“It’s the qualities she has as a leader and as a person that sets her apart. She loves this football club.”