The peak of Emma Hayes’ dynasty is fast approaching, and there’s only one form they’d like that peak to take. There is still a lot to be done for Chelsea to ensure their last game is a Champions League final, but their quarter-final first leg win against Ajax showed they will be fit for the finalists.
It wasn’t nice; It definitely wasn’t easy. But this is the really important part. Chelsea were tested, they struggled to find their best rhythm but they were patient and it paid off.
In the women’s game in the Netherlands, it was Ajax who got off to the better start on Tuesday, spurred by a record crowd, a vocal home support and the knowledge they have a point to prove.
The point is that Ajax are on the rise and are on their way to becoming the football talent factory that has long made this club famous in men’s football. The emergence of their brightest talent in 16-year-old Lily Yohannes was a sign that this was beginning to be true for the women’s team, too.
Chelsea goalkeeper Hannah Hampton, concerned when she was chased in the first few minutes, lingered for a break, but Ajax were unable to capitalize on the advantage.
While Chelsea were facing an increasingly tense start, it didn’t take them long to almost open the scoring when Romee Leuchter was left in a difficult situation.
But the hosts’ momentum on the big night did not last long as a completely amateur mistake gave Chelsea the lead and allowed Hayes to demonstrate his side’s dominance.
They certainly showed their maturity with the opening goal. Ajax were completely shut out, Milicia Keijzer didn’t bother to follow up Lauren James’ run and the Chelsea striker was seemingly offside. It certainly made it look like that as the entire Ajax defense stood still as Regina van Eijk passed her.
The problem was that James hadn’t actually timed his run wrong; Instead, he had timed it perfectly. The first offside flag brought momentary joy to the home crowd, but VAR’s correct decision to put the Blues ahead quickly dampened morale.
No moment more accurately encapsulates the difference between these two sides than the first goal. Blowing the whistle was a simple decision for Chelsea; For some reason this didn’t seem to cross Ajax’s mind.
VAR soon came to the aid of the hosts, who had Guro Reiten’s goal disallowed; Sjoeke Nusken ruled that Reiten was in an offside position and had interfered with play when he shot, but the postponement proved to be another moment where Ajax failed. capitalize.
Chelsea were denied second place but it didn’t last long. Reiten and Nusken combined again a few minutes later, with Nusken heading home the former’s precise delivery. The icing on the cake was defender Kadeisha Buchanan performing a Cruyff turn to set up the move in the arena named after the Dutch legend.
The visiting team’s second goal was a fatal blow for Ajax; The two goal deficit made the challenge insurmountable. The through passes evaporated and Chasity Grant no longer looked capable of turning Chelsea’s full-backs inside out.
A team that had defeated Paris Saint-Germain, Bayern Munich and Roma could do nothing but try to prevent the deficit from growing further. Even this was not possible.
With the early struggles put behind them and the two-goal advantage acting as a buffer, Chelsea were much more comfortable and did a better job of keeping the ball, eliminating Ajax’s chances of clinging on.
Although Chelsea still failed to dazzle in the second half, their route to victory became relatively routine and the lead was sweetened by a second goal from Nusken, who headed home Catarina Macario’s cross to round off the result.
It was also impressive that Chelsea maintained their intensity, considering they were halfway through eight games in March and still had to make do with a depleted squad.
British record signing Mayra Ramirez was out of form, Millie Bright will not return before the international break, and Nusken is someone who has had to play at centre-back in recent weeks to fill gaps. The schedule is challenging, but they rise to the occasion.
Hayes was simple when outlining what separated the sides and highlighted what made the difference for Chelsea.
“I think we definitely showed our experience,” he said. “Calm, calm, we keep our minds even if they are not perfect, it is good discipline. “I think that was the biggest difference tonight.”
Their 3-0 win makes the return leg little more than a formality, although there is still the task of taking the second leg against Ajax before a possible draw against holders Barcelona in the semi-finals.
Winning the Champions League is still a long shot, but one that is getting closer.
When we combine their consistency in the Women’s Super League, their management of results in Europe, their ability to cope with a tight schedule and their excellence in all competitions, a promising recipe for success emerges.