Emma Hayes praised the development of Cheap Ajax Football Shirts and said the promotion was not surprising as she prepared Chelsea for Tuesday’s Champions League quarter-final in Amsterdam.
Ajax became the first Dutch team to make the group stage this season and then escaped a group containing Bayern Munich, Paris Saint-Germain and Roma with three home wins at the Johan Cruijff ArenA. They welcome Chelsea as underdogs, but their threat is real, according to Hayes.
“We played against them in a preparation game a year and a half ago,” recalls the Cheap Chelsea soccer jersey set for kids Manager. “I think we got a draw against them in Portugal. It was a very hard-fought game and I remember saying to [general manager] Paul Green that I could see Ajax being the next team to make it in Europe. It was no surprise to me that they made it because they developed their own talent, they played together and got the right experience.
Hayes highlighted the suspended Sherida Spitse as an example of Ajax’s quality. “I know Spitse won’t play tomorrow but I’m a big fan of hers, I think she’s a great footballer. I think they are a club that has serious ambitions in Europe, they have proven that so far. Having played them before, we know how good they are, so we certainly won’t be going into the game with our eyes closed.
Hayes also praised Ajax’s 16-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes. “There’s no denying that Lily is a great talent and to be playing for a top European team in the central midfield position at the age of 16 shows how much faith the coaching team has in her,” Hayes said. “Her final pass is exceptional. She has the ability to get out of pressure very well, especially in tight spaces. But her vision, the quality of her execution is really, really high. Sometimes I don’t think she’s only 16 years old because she plays so maturely, but she’s a wonderful talent.”
Chelsea have had a quieter run in the group stage and lead Group D with 14 points ahead of Häcken, Paris FC and Cheap Real Madrid Football Shirts on. They were also able to add Catarina Macario and January signings Mayra Ramírez and Nathalie Björn to their Champions League squad to make up for the absence of Sam Kerr, Millie Bright and Mia Fishel through injury.
Macario’s return after 20 months out has been a cautious process, but after three substitute appearances and two goals, she is close to making her first appearance. Hayes said: “I have a very experienced team who have worked together to understand everything from Cat’s medical history, to the time she has been off her feet since her last game, to managing her return, albeit with some stumbling blocks, in a carefully managed way.
“Cat is one of the most popular people in our changing room, she’s so likeable, so charming and charismatic. She’s even getting a bit cheekier, I’ve noticed that in the last few days. She had to fill out this form to be included in an Olympic squad and she said: ‘Now you just have to pick me! But Cat is someone who’s not at 100% yet, but she’s not far away from starting a game.
An extra day off for all their players after Friday night’s 3-1 defeat to Arsenal is very welcome as Chelsea’s fixtures pile up. “Six out of eight games were away games, that was March for us,” said Hayes. “Three of those were up north in the space of seven days.”
The manager then turned to midfielder Erin Cuthbert for her opinion on the impact of the extra day. “An extra day is really important for a player as it gives her more time to rest her legs. Most importantly, I was able to recover mentally over the weekend. My family also visited me. Soccer can be very tiring at times, especially when you play a lot of games in a row. Every game is important and at Chelsea you are expected to win every game.
Emma Hayes praised Ajax’s pace and admitted they pose a serious threat to Chelsea as they prepare for the quarter-finals of the Champions League. Although Ajax were at a disadvantage, Hayes praised their top players, including the suspended Sherida Spitzer and teenage prodigy Lily Johannes, both talented players. Chelsea FC, who are top of the group, have bolstered their squad with new players to make up for injuries. Catarina Macario’s return was carefully planned and she started the competition. Due to Chelsea’s busy schedule, an extra day of rest is crucial for recovery. Erin Cuthbert emphasized the importance of an extra day for physical and mental recovery, with the body being the most important thing for the players.
