Chelsea boss Emma Hayes says she won’t “abandon” the football club and has urged fans to stick together after the Blues were met with heavy sanctions last week. Hayes spoke to the club following her side’s last-gasp victory over Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League on Sunday. Sam Kerr scored in the 92nd minute, sparking jubilation at Kingsmeadow and a triumphant celebration from Hayes and the team. The Chelsea boss was so ecstatic, she ran down the touchline to congratulate the team and seemingly looked ‘drunk’ according to a hilarious photo that has surfaced on Twitter. In an interview with the club after the game, Hayes said it had been a difficult week, which is why she was so emotional. “After the week we’ve just had, you compete for championships when you win games like that,” she said. â€œGames when you are not at your best. I didn’t think we looked the freshest, you have a hat full of chances but you don’t convert. The opposition played really, really well too, you’re down to your bare bones and we’re competing for a championship because we’re able to win a game like that.” 

She added: “Amazing spirit and camaraderie from the players to do that, they gutted that out.” 

Hayes was also keen to thank the Chelsea fans in attendance at Kingsmeadow. Because of the recent sanctions, only season ticket holders were permitted to attend the match, but the Blues faithful were heard singing throughout. 

“I heard them at the 90th minute saying ‘that’s why we’re champions!’. That was before we’d scored, they were singing for the champions at 0-0.

“All I kept thinking was, we are in our most difficult moment, you’re not abandoning the team and we are not abandoning you. We have to stick together – you know everybody’s against us right now. And that I think is giving us strength, knowing that we’ve got each other, and everybody contributed to that win today.” 

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 05: Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea applauds fans after their sides victory in the Vitality Women's FA Cup Final between Arsenal FC and Chelsea FC at Wembley Stadium on December 05, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Pantling/Getty Images)

There has been speculation over the future of the women’s side, given that Roman Abramovich is in the process of selling the club. However, Hayes is confident that her team will be fine and won’t suffer as a result. 

“I’m not worried about us, I think we are a valuable asset to the football club and I know that internally and I don’t expect that to change.”

Right now, Hayes hopes that the club can sell the club quickly so that the focus can shift from debating the future ownership to discussing the team itself. 

DAGENHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 10: Pernille Harder of Chelsea celebrates scoring the 1st goal during the Barclays FA Women's Super League match between West Ham United Women and Chelsea Women at Chigwell Construction Stadium on March 10, 2022 in Dagenham, England. This game has been rescheduled due to Covid-19 and was originally planned on 19th December, 2021. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

“I know our place within our club, I know our importance and I don’t want any of us to be punished or vilified. You know, at the end of the day, Chelsea Football Club is important to the community and I think as quickly as we can resume a sale, so that we can get on with the business of talking about teams and not everything in and around that.”

Chelsea’s next game is away at Everton in the WSL on Wednesday.