Emma Hayes can't avoid Jurgen Klopp comparison as perfect Chelsea finale in doubt

If Emma Hayes' Chelsea swansong promised to be the greatest show in town, it's fair to say that her curtain call might just leave some spectators scratching their heads.

Just a few short weeks ago,the Blues were in the hunt for the quadruple, having lost only two of their last 28 games in all competitions. Now, they have tasted defeat in each of their last two and find themselves at risk of turning the final few months of Hayes' tenure into a forgettable footnote in a stellar career.

Sunday's FA Cup semi-final exit at the hands of Manchester United means Chelsea are now enduring their worst run of form since 2021. The statistics say the Blues dominated their opponents in every conceivable metric at Leigh Sports Village — enjoying 70% possession and registering 26 shots to United's five — and yet, just as they did against Arsenal in last month's Continental League Cup final, they emerged from the clash empty handed.

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«No-one died, we lost a football match,» was Hayes' pragmatic assessment of the contest. «As a team we have to be better and we gave ourselves too much to do.»

The Chelsea boss speaks with the wisdom of someone who has been there, done it and won it all. She has claimed 15 trophies in her 12 years at Kingsmeadow and, even if she does not add to that haul this term, she will depart this summer as an undisputed icon of the women's game.

But, after winning each of the last four Women's Super League (WSL) titles and three consecutive FA Cups, it is hard to shake the feeling that ending the season without any silverware would constitute somewhat of