Emma Hayes pumped her fist for one last time, long after the tension of the afternoon had turned into celebration. After 12 years, Hayes will leave Chelsea as champions of England for the fifth season in a row, a dynasty of domestic dominance sealed with a crushing 6-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford. For that, Hayes has Mayra Ramirez to thank. The striker was unstoppable, shattering the tension of the final day and taking the title race away from Manchester City, Chelsea’s closest challenger. City had to beat Aston Villa and overturn Chelsea’s goal difference to end their dominance, but Ramirez turned their mission into an impossible task. City were beaten in the race before full-time confirmed that Chelsea were champions again.
And so, after a season full of twists and turns, the Women’s Super League finished with a familiar look: Chelsea as champions, the packed away section at Old Trafford serenading Hayes and her players. Hayes rallied one last performance that encapsulated Chelsea’s relentless. They were ruthless and clinical while Manchester United, having won the FA Cup last weekend, salvaging their season and perhaps taking the edge off this final game, were ripped apart by Ramirez, Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Guro Reiten.
