Emma Hayes has warned that Real Madrid's Caroline Weir will pose a big threat to her Chelsea team when the two meet in a Champions League showdown.
Chelsea currently top Group A with maximum points after wins over PSG and Vllaznia. But Real will provide their toughest test yet when they come to Kingsmeadow on Wednesday evening with Scottish midfielder Weir a key part of Alberto Toril's team.
The Las Blancas number 11 moved to the Spanish capital in the summer after four successful years at Manchester City, winning four trophies. Weir has already made a big impact at her new club and scored against her ex-employers City in August to knock them out of the Champions League in the first qualifying round.
She has already tormented Chelsea once this year, scoring twice to inspire City to a second-half fightback in the 2022 League Cup Final back in March. And although Hayes said seeing her again wouldn't bring back memories of that day, she admitted the Scottish powerhouse could cause her team problems if they don't deal with her.
"She's (Weir) a really clever player there is no doubt," said Hayes. "If she plays as a false nine she will overload the midfield, which I think she probably will do.
"If she plays as a wide seven or eleven, she will give us problems on the inside to let the full-back bomb on. She picks up spaces in the pockets very well.
"So we'll have to be ready. There may be times our back four will have players on the outside of them, but no one occupying the inside spaces. We have to be calm about that and not let her drag her into difficult areas.
"But we know what we can do against them, so focus is making we hurt their back four as much as possible."
Hayes also revealed that the club did have talks regarding potentially switching the fixture to Stamford Bridge, days after playing there against Spurs in a 3-0 win in the WSL. But she believes the right decision was taken to stage the glamour tie at Kingsmeadow, which saw a superb atmosphere in their last home Champions League tie, an 8-0 win over Albanian visitors Vllaznia who were backed by lively support.
Chelsea's last home group game on December 22 against PSG will be at the Bridge. The Chelsea boss spoke after the Spurs win that the WSL is outgrowing smaller stadia.
"I was gutted I missed that (the Vllaznia game)," added Hayes who has just returned to her full-time duties after a break for emergency hysterectomy surgery. "We had conversations with the club about having this one at Stamford Bridge.
"I think selling as many as we did on Sunday, trying to do the same again Wednesday I'm unsure about, I don't want only 5,000 turning up (at Stamford Bridge) I think it is smart to pick the right games.
"We've picked PSG during the Christmas week, with kids off school is a good opportunity. Playing in big stadiums is great, but you have to pick the right opponent, the right timing and prepare properly.
"There is a business cost to doing it. But I think for the big games, the top clubs will look more and more to play in big stadiums."
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