"I'm from a council estate, trust me, pressure was putting money on the table to pay the bills as a child. This is not pressure," Emma Hayes responded when asked what it was like to be the biggest name in women's football and coach one of the biggest teams in the sport in Friday's press conference.
"Look at the rise in costs for people to pay their bills. This is far from pressure. This is a joy." Even on the eve of what most would consider a nerve-shredding occasion that will define the Blues WSL campaign, Hayes remained humble, reflective of the environment she has cultivated from Cobham to Kingsmeadow.
Hayes represents more to Chelsea than just a coach. She has become a spokesperson for the club, a figure supporters feel connected to whenever she speaks about the team, tactics or wider societal issues.
