Emma Hayes sends warning to Chelsea players ahead of Barcelona Champions League semi-final

Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has outlined the challenge facing her side in the semi-final of the UEFA Women’s Champions League when they take on Barcelona for a place in the final.

The Blues have made the journey over to Spain for the first leg of the final four clash in Saturday’s early kick-off. They then host the same team in the second leg at Stamford Bridge a week later.

The tie is a repeat of the one that saw Chelsea exit the competition at the same stage last season. In what is the manager’s final season in charge of the club, winning the one title that has evaded her would be the perfect way to sign off.

Chelsea will be the underdogs for the game. Hayes has said that her team will need to ‘play with our heads’ if they are to cause an upset.

“You have to be in it to compete for it. We always knew we would have to face Barcelona at some stage,” she said. “We’re happy for it to be our turn in the semi-finals.

“We understand the team and the opponent. They are world-class with unbelievable players but, I’m not thinking about fairytales.

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“Barcelona are world champions on international level, European champions at club level. They are deserving of all the accolades they have achieved but it’s a football match.

“There are two legs. All our job has been is to get ourselves in a position to come here in the competition. We won’t do it [win] playing with our hearts, we have to play with our heads.”

Barca are the current holders of the Champions League, beating Wolfsburg 3-2 in the final last year to win the title for the second time. Along with French side