This was not the dramatic ending to the Women’s Super League season many had craved, but for Emma Hayes, there was no better way to bow out. In her 12 years as manager it is doubtful whether she has had a more enjoyable final day than this.
Her Chelsea team did not just get the job done, they annihilated Manchester United on their own turf. In a strange way this has been one of Hayes’ most turbulent and testing seasons. It is for that reason this fifth successive WSL title probably means the most of any trophy she has won.
For much of the last few months it had felt like the league was slipping away from Chelsea. After their 4-3 defeat at Liverpool, Hayes went as far as conceding the title to Manchester City. But Arsenal’s victory at the Joie Stadium four days later gave Chelsea a route back in and they did not need to be asked twice. An 8-0 victory over Bristol City and 1-0 win over Spurs meant they just had to match City’s result.
When Mayra Ramirez put Chelsea ahead after less than two minutes, it was clear this was going to be their day.
The return of Ramirez from injury could not have come at a better time. Chelsea’s record signing had been heavily missed in the last few weeks. United’s defenders could not live with her. The forward assisted the second and third goals and scored the fourth before half-time. By then, the game was done and so was the title.
Chelsea claimed their fifth consecutive Women’s Super League title on Saturday afternoon
It was a fairytale send-off for departing manager Emma Hayes (pictured), who will end her time at the club with seven WSL titles
The Blues claimed a huge 6-0 victory against Manchester United, beating Manchester City to the league title on goal difference
Millie Bright (bottom left) and Emma Hayes (bottom right) lifted the WSL trophy together
A fifth goal came early in the second half and a sixth in the closing stages. For the 2,700 travelling Chelsea fans, it was party time. They did not stop singing and Hayes, at times, joined in with them.
She will be a big loss to this league and this club – but she leaves as a legend and serial winner.
Chelsea dominated this game from start to finish, with United failing to have a shot on target.
There were no signs of any final day nerves from Hayes side, who opened the scoring after one minute and 27 seconds. Nathalie Bjorn picked out Guro Reiten on the left wing and she sent in a perfectly weighted cross into the box, which Ramirez powered past Mary Earps.
The second came six minutes later as Chelsea cut through United’s defence with ease. Melanie Leupolz headed on a long ball to Ramirez, who played a through ball to Johanna Rytting Kaneryd. The winger out-paced Hannah Blundell before slotting the ball past Earps.
Fran Kirby (pictured) came off the bench for her final appearance in a Chelsea shirt and in the 85th minute she marked it with a goal
Hayes (left) and Bright (right) led the celebrations on the pitch after lifting the trophy
There were no signs of final day nerves for Hayes’ side, who opened the scoring inside two minutes
Lauren James (pictured) smiled with the WSL trophy, but did not feature in the match amid an ongoing foot injury
For Hayes (pictured) there was no better way to bow out and it is doubtful whether she has had a more enjoyable final day than this
As the full-time whistle went, Chelsea’s bench and coaching staff rushed onto the pitch to celebrate
Mayra Ramirez (pictured) scored twice during the match after opening the scoring for Chelsea
Johanna Rytting Kaneryd (left) doubled the Blues lead in the eighth minute of the match
Legendary football manager Sir Alex Ferguson was also in attendance at Old Trafford
United could have pulled a goal back midway through the first half when Maya Le Tissier met Katie Zelem’s corner, but her flicked header hit the top of the crossbar and bounced over.
Chelsea were forced into a substitution just before half-time when Catarina Macario picked up an injury. Within three minutes, her replacement, Sjoeke Nusken, had found the net. Ramirez showed pace and power to get past Millie Turner before cutting back for Nusken, who tapped in at the back-post.
There was still time for a fourth goal before half-time, as Ramirez once again eased past United’s defence before firing a shot into the top left corner.
There was no sign of Chelsea easing off in the second half as Leupolz added a fifth two minutes into the second half.
Sjoeke Nusken (right) scored Chelsea’s third, tapping in a low cross into an empty net
Melanie Leupolz’s (pictured) outstretched leg fired Guro Reiten’s cross into the back of the net
This has been one of Hayes’ most testing seasons and perhaps will also mean the most
Earps initially did well to save from Rytting Kaneryd but United failed to clear their lines, with Reiten picking up a loose ball to cross for Leupolz, whose first time finish flew into the bottom right corner.
The most poignant goal was the last one. Fran Kirby had come off the bench for her final appearance in a Chelsea shirt and in the 85th minute she marked it with a goal, finishing smartly into the bottom corner from just inside the box. Kirby is the club’s all-time leading scorer and her goal was as fitting as Chelsea’s performance.
