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Chelsea women’s coach, Emma Hayes has explained her decision to leave the club after 12 years in charge.
Hayes, who took charge of the Chelsea women’s team in 2011, recently revealed she’ll be leaving at the end of the season.
There have been numerous reports in the news regarding the reason she’s leaving, but she set the record straight during a press conference on Friday.
“I believe in private conversations,” she said when asked about claims that she’s leaving because negotiations to extend her contract fell through.
“Of course, I’m disappointed to hear things are being said in the press. I want to make sure I maintain my own professionalism in everything I do. I have a team to focus on, games to win and I don’t think anything will come between me and the players, and me and the fans.
“I understand Chelsea. This is my club, and it will always be my club. While I’m sad on many, many levels, I have said to the fans there will be a moment where I’m sat with them in the crowd, and I look forward to that come the end of the season,” the gaffer added.
Explaining her decision to leave Hayes said: “I’ve driven four hours to and from this place six days a week for 12 years,” she said. “I have a five-year-old that needs more of his mummy. That’s important. Family matters.
“It was my decision. When you coach at an elite level and you have to perform at an elite level, and you have the standards and expectations that I have, anything less than the best is not acceptable and maintaining that, on a daily grind, is a lot. It takes a lot of work.
“It is important that I’m a mum. Not many football managers sit up here and talk about that in the same way. My little boy has been extraordinary to allow me to do this, but it’s challenging for him.
“This weekend is a good example: we’ve got a game away at Everton, then away at Real Madrid. There’s still a lot of work to be done in the women’s game for people with children. We have lives – this is not a selfish decision, this is a selfless decision. This is about putting some other things first in my life and I’m ready for that.”
Hayes is reportedly set to be named head coach of the USA women’s national team.