As the sun set on one of the most turbulent days in Chelsea’s history, there was still business to be done. There were few home comforts in store for the women’s team as they travelled to West Ham, on a night when those would have been keenly appreciated. Emma Hayes’s side were in need of a win to keep on the coat-tails of Arsenal at the top of the Women’s Super League. Accompanied by so much uncertainty, their loyal legion of fans descended on Dagenham on Thursday, decked out in royal blue, to offer unrelenting support.
In the circumstances, the action on the pitch was a sidenote to more significant matters. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stunned the world and the government’s response felt close at home. The imposition of sanctions against Chelsea’s owner, Roman Abramovich, has been much discussed and was not wholly unexpected. But the instinct that something was going to happen sooner or later did little to lessen the blow for the fans, players and staff.
