EMMA HAYES says Chelsea cannot dwell on their Champions League last four loss with their bid to retain this season’s top tier title at stake.
And the Blues chief wants her side to be ruthless away at Liverpool in their first WSL game following their goalless shift on Saturday.
Tonight, the title-holders return to domestic top tier action after their loss to Barcelona in the Champions League second leg semis.
The Spanish giants’ 2-0 away win at Stamford Bridge ended Hayes’ aces' hopes of reaching the contest’s final for the second year in a row.
With their trophy double chase done and dusted, hopes of silverware rest on their push for the title.
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Hayes, who will leave the club at the end of this season, said: “After any loss, one of the worst things you can have is a big period of time between the loss and the next game.
“We don't have time to dwell on exiting. We've dealt with that on our day off and we have to continue.
“We've got a small chance of winning the league, so we have to put everything into doing that.
"Everybody's efforts are into competing against Liverpool.
"We're not in the driving seat (for the title). We don't have the goal difference, so as far as I'm concerned, we have to catch up.”
This evening the London giants resume their battle to win the WSL title for a seventh time under Hayes.
Against Liverpool in the WSL Chelsea have been dominant winning 11 of their last 13 league clashes.
But they face a tough test against fifth-placed Matt Beard’s Reds who are fighting for a top four finish and have lost once in their last four games.
Hayes adds: “They've had a brilliant season, vying for the top four.
“Matt is a seasoned veteran in this league and knows what the needs are. I think moving into Melwood has really helped them as a club and they're definitely a tough, tough team."
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Anything other than a win from the first of Chelsea’s last four games this term, could risk them going trophyless under Hayes for the first time since 2019.
However, the Blues boss, who takes charge of the USA women’s team at the end of this term, expects to see a clinical performance from her players.
She said: “We have to be ruthless in the final third, and the team knows what they need to do.
“We worked on executing that and holding each other to account on those things, that's what I will look forward to in this performance.”