245 300
Melanie Leupolz’s own goal, as well as efforts from Alexia Putellas, Aitana Bonmati and Caroline Graham Hansen inside 36 minutes, sealed Barcelona’s first European title; Emma Hayes said: “All the girls were very quick to tell [Roman Abramovich] that we’ll be back here”
The Chelsea players have vowed to Roman Abramovich that they will return to the Champions League final in the future, coach Emma Hayes has said.
The club’s owner was in attendance as Hayes’ side fell 4-0 behind after little more than half an hour, a position from which they could not recover as Barcelona clinched their first title.
Hayes said the players had a chance to speak to Abramovich after the game and have pledged to do all they can to return to the summit of European football in future.
“Our owner came in to see us, and all the girls were very quick to tell him that we’ll be back here and we’ll work hard on the training pitch to make sure we do that,” Hayes said.
“If I know this group well enough I know that they mean those words. This is just another step in our journey.”
However, she maintained there would be improvements made as her side learn from the pain of losing on the biggest stage, just as Barcelona proved to have done following their loss to Lyon in the 2019 final.
“We’re double winners so far this season. We’ve had an exceptional season,” she said.
“I think the disappointment that will be felt in the dressing room is that the game was over before it began.
“That’s what’s difficult, because when you then end up having to chase a game it becomes transitional; you’re one-v-one everywhere.
“I thought we did very well at that, but what I didn’t think we did was defend our box well enough when it came down to it, and I didn’t think we were good enough in theirs. That’s why we don’t win the game.
“That’s something we’ve prided ourselves on, and something that, if we want to go up to another level, then we have to reflect on what that takes to do that because I think the better team won the game.
“For us, we have to close that gap against them. They had the pain of two years ago and it showed.”
‘Resilient Chelsea will bounce back’
Crystal Palace goalkeeper Chloe Morgan said the resilience of Hayes and her Chelsea side will ensure that the team bounces back from the disappointment of defeat at the final hurdle.
“When you look at the history of the Champions League, Barcelona lost the final two years ago and that was a big learning curve,” Morgan told Sky Sports News.
“Barcelona were a class above [on Sunday] and I think Emma Hayes will have to just concede that. Sometimes you have to realise and appreciate that the better football was played by Barcelona.
“But Emma Hayes isn’t just going to sit down and take that loss – she’s going to go back, she’s going to rebuild the squad, she’s going to give them that time to recover.
“Obviously they’ve got the fifth round of the FA Cup coming up as well, so there’s something positive to look forward to, another cup to be fighting for.
“You could tell at the end there were so many high emotions.
“I saw Magdalena Eriksson crying at the end and I don’t blame her, it’s been such a phenomenal season for them all, and walking away from such a big final like that with a loss like that is going to be hard to take.
“But I know Chelsea, they’re going to bounce back; they’re a strong, resilient side.”