da bet nacional： Emma Hayes has slammed the Football Association's fixture scheduling after her Chelsea side played their third game in just six days.
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Chelsea beat Liverpool 5-1 on SaturdayJust over 48 hours after returning from MadridHayes criticises scheduling as games pile upGettyWHAT HAPPENED?
The Blues beat Liverpool 5-1 early on Saturday afternoon in the Women's Super League, just over two days after landing back in the UK in the early hours of Thursday morning following their 2-2 draw with Real Madrid in the Champions League.
The London outfit also played Everton in the WSL last Sunday and now manager Hayes has called on the FA to improve their scheduling due to their congested fixture list.
AdvertisementGettyWHAT EMMA HAYES SAID
After the Liverpool win, Hayes told reporters: "We're the only English team in Europe (this season). Yet we're the only association that doesn't help its team in Europe. Spain do, France do, Germany do. We don't and that for me is disappointing. We're working against ourselves. There's a rule in place that means you can put a Saturday game on at 1:30 for TV, because we've had two days between games.
"But they aren't factoring in that we are getting in at half four in the morning. Why are we getting in then? Well there's drug testing so you can't just leave. On that first day you're like a zombie and the second is just about getting your legs moving. If you get home at 4am in the morning, it screws a night's sleep.
"Don't we want an English team to progress in Europe? It's already hard enough. The rest of Europe look at us and think their league doesn't even help them. Don't you think it is a little bizarre that we're the only team to play this weekend after being the only team to play Wednesday and play Sunday night away from home?"
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
This will be Hayes' last season in charge of Chelsea after taking up the role in 2021. Since then the 47-year-old has won 13 major trophies but when the 2023/24 campaign ends in May, she will become the next boss of the United States women's national soccer team.
The Blues are chasing a fifth straight WSL crown and Hayes will want her side to win the Champions League, among other major trophies, in her last hurrah at the west London side. Therefore, getting some extra respite between games will be key to their success.
WHAT NEXT FOR CHELSEA?
The fixtures continue to come thick and fast for Chelsea as they are back in Champions League action against Paris FC on Thursday, followed by Leicester City in the WSL on Sunday.