Emma Hayes proud of Chelsea, feels players will learn from Barcelona loss in Champions League final

ByEurosport

Updated 16/05/2021 at 21:58 GMT

Barcelona produced a dominant display to defeat Chelsea to win the UEFA Women's Champions League for the first time. Hayes' side were undone by a first-half blitz after falling behind inside 60 seconds. They matched Barcelona in the second half but the damage had already been done, and the manager wants her players to learn from the experience

Emma Hayes has expressed pride with the way her Chelsea side battled on in the 4-0 loss to Barcelona in the Champions League final.

Chelsea, who arrived in Gothenburg on the back of a Women’s Super League title win, were left shell shocked by a Barcelona barrage in the first half.

An own goal from Melanie Leupolz in the opening 60 seconds set Chelsea back on their heels, and further goals from Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen set Barca on their way to the title.

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Chelsea matched their opponents in the second half, which filled Hayes with pride, and the coach feels her players will learn plenty from the experience.

"It's been a wonderful season for us,” Hayes told BT Sport.

Today was difficult because the game was over before it began and that's what is so difficult to reflect on.

"To concede so early, we had two good chances and then they got the second through the penalty.

"Ann [Katrin Berger, Chelsea goalkeeper] hasn't had a save to make but we've lost 4-0.

“The damage was done, I'm proud of the second-half performance, the players gave it everything.

"Congratulations to Barcelona, they're worthy winners, deserving of the title and it's something we will learn from because this is the next step; we showed some naivety at times."

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