‘It’s not f*****g over!’

For those who missed it, Chelsea Women yesterday beat Bristol City 8-0 in the Women’s Super League.

The previous week Chelsea had lost 2-0 to Barcelona (2-1 on aggregate) in the semi-final of the Women’s Champions League in front of 39,398 people at Stamford Bridge, an experience I described here (Bridge of sighs).

Yesterday's match was also played in front of a near capacity crowd - albeit a more modest 4,800 - at Kingsmeadow in Kingston-upon-Thames, and had I not been given tickets (as a birthday present) to watch Tim Rice in Norwich I would have gone.

The background to the game was complicated by several factors but, if you’re interested, read this - Women’s Super League title race: Chelsea or Man City - who’s got the edge?.

Then watch the highlights (above) followed by the clip below which features a post match address to the crowd by Chelsea manager Emma Hayes.

All you have to know is that Hayes is leaving at the end of the season, after twelve years, to become head coach of the USA women’s national team.

A few days earlier - following a chaotic 4-3 midweek defeat at Liverpool - Hayes had uncharacteristically declared that the league was “done”, effectively conceding defeat to Manchester City.

Yesterday her post match address (from 11:50) followed a rather sentimental ‘letter’ to Chelsea fans that was pre-recorded and played on the screens at Kingsmeadow to mark her imminent departure.

Given the circumstances, her subsequent live address - if not exactly Churchillian - was nonetheless magnificent:

“Let me be clear. It’s not f*****g over. There is no time for sentimentality. All work drinks are cancelled. There’s a title to be won.”

Now do you understand why I am increasingly invested in the women’s game?!