Emma Hayes admitted it would be a fairytale end to her Chelsea career by lifting the Women’s Champions League for the first time at the end of the season. Hayes will end her 12-year stay with the west-London club after this campaign. The Champions League is the one major trophy that has eluded the 47-year-old during that time, with the Blues having lost 4-0 in the 2021 final to Barcelona and reached the semi-finals on three other occasions. Speaking ahead of Chelsea’s opening Group D fixture v Real Madrid, Hayes told a press conference: “It would be a fairytale to win it, of course. But I didn’t grow up liking fairytales – my sister did. “I would love nothing more than to be in a winning position with this team.” Chelsea beat Real 2-0 at Kingsmeadow last season courtesy of goals from Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert before they drew 1-1 in the Spanish capital. And Hayes, who highlighted the threat of left-back Olga Carmona, believes the experience of playing Wednesday’s opponents has helped her side’s preparations. She added: “We have analysed last season’s match and Real Madrid’s other matches, including this weekend’s match (7-1 win v Real Sociedad). We know what to expect. “I think having been here helps, it’s something familiar, but we don’t underestimate them. “They have many qualities, but I think they have the best on the extremes. The ability to go upwards, especially on the left with Olga. She is a mentor, a coach, a friend, life coach - it's more than football playing under her. Millie Bright “They have players looking for the back and putting balls into the area and they are very good in transition.” Chelsea captain Millie Bright admitted the news of Hayes’ departure is “devastating”. She said: “It’s been a bit of a whirlwind. I was devastated. “She is a mentor, a coach, a friend, life coach – it’s more than football playing under her. It is the hard part of football. I feel privileged to have played under her for so long.”

The first major cup draw for the 2023/24 season takes place on Thursday ahead of the new campaign starting, with English Football League clubs set to find out how they will start life in this year’s Carabao Cup adventure. All 72 EFL sides feature in the first round, which is split into north and south sections for purposes of the draw. The victors will be joined by 12 Premier League teams in the second round, before the remaining eight join in at the third-round stage. For now though it’s all about the lower league sides and the start of their journey, on the day they also discovered their league fates with the 23/24 fixture lists revealed. Manchester United won the competition last term but now another opportunity for silverware arises, with League Cup round one matches starting from week commencing 7 August and the final set for Wembley on 25 February 2024. Follow the Carabao Cup first round draw live below: Read More Opening day fixtures 2023/24: Every Championship match in first round of games Opening day fixtures 2023/24: Every League One match in first round of games Carabao Cup 2023/24 fixture dates and schedule revealed

SANTA MONICA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 7, 2023--

Rachel Daly’s former school teacher has hailed the Lioness as a “one-off” player as England aim for World Cup glory on Sunday. Sarina Wiegman’s side reached their first ever World Cup final with a 3-1 win against co-hosts Australia on Wednesday in front of 75,784 in Sydney. Aston Villa forward Daly, the WSL’s top scorer last season, has played a key part in their campaign – often featuring at wing-back for the side and scored in England’s 6-1 victory against China in the group stages. The 31-year-old started her career at Killinghall Nomads in Yorkshire and Michael Sweetman, who was her teacher at Rossett School, admitted her mental and physical attributes stood out from an early age. Mr Sweetman told the PA news agency: “She was a one-off, she was completely different and the attributes she had, those winning attributes, it’s just pure focus on winning the game. “It can in some ways not be great, but on a football pitch it’s ideal, it’s perfect. She’s been a success at every team she’s played in and that’s why I think, but she had the physical attributes as well. “She wasn’t amazingly quick or amazingly fit, but she just played the game. Her touch was amazing, she was strong and nothing fazed her. “She could take a boot, get up and get on with it. She’s skilful, she’d play up front or in midfield for me and she scored two or three a game.” England are aiming to achieve back-to-back success in a major tournament final after their European Championship win at Wembley last year. Daly was part of that Lionesses squad and Mr Sweetman reflected on how far she has come in her England career. “I definitely believed she’d play for England, whether I believed she’d get to a World Cup final I don’t think you could ever comprehend that really,” he added. “You just want your kids to achieve the best they can be, so to get to England is great. “I actually rang the FA when she was 14 and asked them to come down and watch her. They came down to a final at Harrogate Town and we beat a school in York 5-0 I think, she scored two and that was the start of it.” Beginning her domestic career with Leeds, Daly moved over to America to play in college for St John’s University and was selected by the Houston Dash in the 2016 NWSL draft. She spent six seasons in Texas before moving to the Women’s Super League last year to play for Aston Villa, where she instantly made a mark in her debut season by finishing with 22 goals. Those performances earned Daly the Barclays WSL’s Player of the Season award and on Wednesday she was nominated for the PFA Players’ Player of the Year award. Mr Sweetman expressed his pride at her success, adding: “I don’t want to say I feel responsible, because I’m not, I was a small part for five years and basically I just let her play. “The only thing I did differently was that football was just developing at the time. “They were trying to say that there may be careers ahead and if you can keep playing, keep improving on your game maybe you could go to America or you could do this or you could do that. “I never say I was responsible but the only thing I did let her do was let her play football with the boys in PE. “You don’t feel responsible, but there is a sense of pride that one of your kids that you did your best to nurture during those years is playing at the highest level.” Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Holly Bradshaw makes giant leap to overcome anxiety before World Championships Gus Atkinson feeling ready for World Cup duty after surprise England call-up FA chief Mark Bullingham says Sarina Wiegman could be an England men’s candidate

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Up to 50,000 Roman coins have been discovered by divers off the coast of Sardinia. The coins, which date back to the first half of the fourth century, were found on the sea bed not far from the north-east shore of the Mediterranean island. According to an initial estimate, made on the basis of the overall weight of the find, the number of large bronze coins - called follis - is between 30,000 and 50,000. Follis coins were introduced around 294 AD by the Roman emperor Diocletian. They were initially discovered by a private citizen who, during a dive, noticed some metallic remains at a shallow depth and later notified authorities. Read More SNP politician criticises ‘pomp’ of King’s speech amid cost of living crisis Palestinian PM sobs at cabinet meeting telling story of children killed in Gaza Hundreds gather at vigil held for Ukrainian soldiers killed in missile attack

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