Emma Hayes admitted she was "upset" to relegate close friend and fellow manager Kelly Chambers after Chelsea's 3-0 win over Reading.
Hayes ' team retained their WSL title with the final day win, after goals from Sam Kerr (2) and Guro Reiten, lifting the trophy in front of thousands of travelling Blues after the final whistle. But the win also relegated their opponents to the Championship who finished bottom of the league.
Even if Reading had beaten Chelsea, Leicester's win at Brighton meant they were doomed. But it was a difficult afternoon for manager Chambers, with her players looking deflated at full-time as they watched their opponents celebrate yet another league championship.
"I'm upset for Kelly (Chambers)," said Hayes. "She's heavily pregnant and doesn't need this stress. But to be in this business for 20 years... I often say this but women don't get the chances men do.
"If I was a club in the top division in this country I would be going after Kelly - sometimes she doesn't get recognition for the work she's done for this football club. I’m a bit sad because winning the league and relegating a friend doesn’t feel good in my soul, with who I am."
Hayes also admitted their latest WSL title was fuelled by a fear of losing. The Blues only lost twice all season, with one of their defeats coming on the opening day against Liverpool.
"The fear of losing drives me more than the will to win," she said. "This has definitely been the hardest year. I’m relieved that it’s over, for lots of reasons.
“When you’re always chasing, the whole year, because you lose the first game and then games are cancelled, it almost felt like the pressure wasn’t on us, because we were never in the front position for long."
The win at Reading also ensured Chelsea had claimed a third straight league and cup double. The only blot on their domestic record this season was a 3-1 defeat to Arsenal in the League Conti Cup final back in March.
Hayes also said that she wants to keep the squad evolving into next season. Chelsea's team is packed full of internationals, but many, including the likes of England's Jess Carter and German Melanie Leupolz have had to settle for starting games from the bench.
"For us it's not just about building a team to compete," Hayes told Sky Sports. "It's about growing - and looking at a wall of six thousand fans today gave me so much joy.
"Some of the players have gone through really tough times with not playing. I have to dispel this misnomer that players aren't happy when they don't play - they have the ability to look after themselves and games start coming around and on days like this they know it's absolutely worth it."
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