As Chelsea’s men take to their yachts or put their feet up in front of the telly (Ross Barkley has helpfully issued his Netflix tips), it’s all go for the women.
Manager Emma Hayes is hard at work at the Cobham training ground and the Kingsmeadow stadium, getting her players match-fit for their first challenge – the FA Women’s Community Shield on the last Saturday of the month at Wembley.
The match against Man City Women is shaping up to be a big event. It’s live on the BBC (as opposed to the men’s version later in the day), so there will be a huge audience.
It’s also being broadcast at lunchtime on the 29th, and Hayes has always had a huge awareness of the importance of recruiting and retaining the next generation of players and supporters from among the young girls who currently look up to the likes of Beth England, Millie Bright and Sam Kerr.
Hayes believes Chelsea have to work even harder as reigning league champions to stay at the top, with every other team (including a beefed-up Man Utd and a refreshed Man City) trying to topple them. “That’s the challenge I’m putting forward to them every day,” she said.
“The message to the players is that you need to put yourself in the best possible position to compete to play in [the Community Shield], because with the funds City have spent over the summer they are showing why they are one of the best teams in the world.”
Chelsea have added Mel Leupolz, Jessie Fleming and Niamh Charles, while Fran Kirby, restored to full fitness, feels like another new addition.
The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and unless specifically stated are not necessarily those of Hammersmith & Fulham Council.
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