'Devastated' - How Lionesses star Millie Bright reacted to news that Chelsea boss Emma Hayes was leaving Blues for USWNT role

The Chelsea head coach will depart Stamford Bridge at the end of this season as it has been confirmed that she will be the manager of the USWNT. Bright, who moved to the London club just two years after Hayes, hailed the successful coach for her development and revealed that their relationship is "more than just playing football."

Bright told reporters: "It's been a bit of a whirlwind. As a player and a person, I was devastated. I've been here nine years under Emma and the things I've learned. I've always spoken so highly of her. She's a mentor, a coach, a friend, a life coach. It's more than just football playing under her. That's probably been the biggest thing for me whilst taking my game to the next level season on season. It is the hard part of football when I think it's really special If you can play under a manager for so long where you've got that relationship where you constantly thriving. For me, that's very rare and that's why I have a huge amount of respect for Emma and the club. I just feel privileged to have played under her for so long but I won't speak too much more on that because I know she's going to tell me to stay focussed on the game (against Real Madrid). Everyone is gutted. We're just really grateful and proud of everything that we've achieved. But we've got a full season ahead and the Champions League, so that's where our heads are at."

Hayes wants to leave Chelsea on a high and has set an ambitious target of lifting the Women's Champions League glory in her final season at the club. She has enjoyed incredible success in English football, winning six Women's Super League titles, five FA Cups and two League Cups, but the European trophy has eluded her for nine years.

"It would be a fairytale, of course, but I didn't grow up liking fairytales too much," Hayes said. "I'm more practical than that but I'd like nothing more than to be in a winning position with this team."

Hayes will be leading her troops against Real Madrid on Wednesday in this season's first Champions League assignment at the Alfredo Di Stefano Stadium and is ready to give what it takes to shine on the pitch against the Spanish giants.

"We've analysed Madrid's game, we know the personnel, we know what to expect - but knowing what to expect and delivering is different," she said. "They are a team that are quick in transition, in front areas they have players who can pick passes to get in behind. They are patient so we have to be patient away from home. They are a team that are growing in stature away from home."