Chelsea boss Emma Hayes spoke about their preparations for the new Womens Super League season following a 3-2 friendly win over Roma
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00:00 That's fine.
00:01 OK.
00:02 We're good.
00:06 Emma, it feels like a lifetime since the last game at Kingsmeadow.
00:08 How good is it to be back?
00:09 Oh, it's great.
00:10 Nice to hear our fans and nice to get a run out in front of the crowd.
00:14 It's most of what we've done being behind closed doors so far, so really good.
00:17 Yeah, and it was a tough test against the Italian campers tonight,
00:20 but that's what you want from pre-season, right? A test?
00:22 Yeah, I mean, we've scheduled the minutes for everyone.
00:24 For us, we just need to get everybody up to a level.
00:27 Some have been training all pre-season, some just a couple of days,
00:30 so it's very early on for us.
00:32 And pre-season continues from Portugal soon.
00:34 What are you looking to get out of that camp?
00:37 Well, we haven't had the whole team together yet,
00:39 so we need the whole team together first and,
00:41 you know, build everybody back into the Chelsea way.
00:44 As I said, some play with only having two training sessions,
00:47 so we just need a bit more time together on the grass.
00:50 And lastly, it's only a few weeks now to start the season.
00:52 Spurs at home at Stamford Bridge.
00:55 How important is it for fans to turn up, especially after the summer
00:57 we've had between international football?
00:59 Yeah, it's massively important for the game.
01:01 Let's hope we really pack the stadium out.
01:04 I always say the players deserve it, and we're very much looking forward
01:07 to being back at Stamford Bridge.
01:08 Perfect. Thanks so much, Emma.
01:09 Thank you. Thanks.
01:10 But I'm just happy we come through it with no injuries.
01:13 Everyone's a bit closer physically, and we've still got a lot of work to do.
01:18 And great to have Fran back, aren't you?
01:20 Yeah, amazing.
01:21 That's probably the big plus point for us.
01:23 Forget some 70 odd minutes of football.
01:26 She's training hard in the preseason, and she's got work to do,
01:29 but she's going in the right direction.
01:31 She did look really sharp back there.
01:33 Yeah, no, she's been training.
01:35 She's one of the players who've been with us at the beginning, so that helps.
01:38 She's definitely still early.
01:40 What are the aims for Portugal?
01:43 What are your hopes and your targets?
01:44 Bringing the team back together.
01:46 They've been apart.
01:47 And you'll have the whole squad together.
01:48 Yes, they'll all be in.
01:49 I haven't had them all in.
01:50 Some have only played two training sessions and played 45 minutes a night.
01:54 So for them, they don't look sharp, but it's OK.
01:58 It's what preseason's for.
01:59 And it's more about just building the connections again.
02:03 And I felt we did that.
02:04 The team in the second half, we've played together for longer, and it showed.
02:08 I think that was a difference.
02:10 And Aguine?
02:12 Yeah, I'm so happy for her.
02:14 Yeah, so nice.
02:18 I don't know that, but I'm so happy for her.
02:20 She's again been in with us all preseason and really put a shift in for that.
02:24 And I know it will mean a lot to her in front of the crowd.
02:26 I know it's only a friendly, but it will mean a lot.
02:28 It will mean a lot to her, definitely.
02:30 She's put in a shift in.
02:32 She's desperate to do well, and she's showing what a goal threat she can be for us, which is great.
02:36 Welcome back, everyone.
02:40 I can't brief you about anything because I haven't seen you yet.
02:43 So I don't think it's fair to brief you about anything.
02:47 You can see you're off to Spurs.
02:49 In that week, in the build-up.
02:51 You know everything that's happened with the Spanish football team winning the World Cup and the president.
02:55 How do you think that's overshadowed their win and everything that's happened with them there?
03:01 To be honest with you, I just want to focus on this tonight.
03:04 If I'm being honest with you.
03:05 It makes a lot of sense.
03:06 Perfect. Have a great day.
03:07 Thank you, everyone.