Chelsea women's boss Emma Hayes leaves men's coach Mauricio Pochettino hanging to take call from Man Utd icon Sir Alex Ferguson as she prepares to take the reins for USWNT

The Chelsea women's manager revealed that she was forced to tell the men's manager Pochettino to wait after she received a call from legendary former Manchester United manager Ferguson.

The Blues confirmed last month that Hayes would leave the club after 11 years at the end of the ongoing season. The 47-year-old will next take up the role of the US women's national team's manager.

The English manager has been with the London-based club for a decade now and has won every single trophy on offer at domestic level and converted them into a dominant force in English women's football.

The USWNT, who had a disastrous outing at the 2023 Women's World Cup, are on a mission to overhaul their squad and have thus picked Hayes as the suitable candidate to oversee the changes.

Speaking to BBC, the Blues boss said, "We had a chat last week, he rang me, but I was in the middle of talking to Poch so I was torn. There's not many people you tell Poch to wait for but I did say to him it was Sir Alex. He calls me from time to time so I wasn't surprised.

"Anything he says to me I always take with such pride. He is a legend of the game and someone whose opinion I value and he has a love of America. We talked a little bit about that, a little bit about legacy, a little bit about leaving at the top. So there were wise words from him. I'm sure it won't be the last phone call I get from him this season."

Hayes' Chelsea, who are unbeaten this season so far and are at the top of the Women's Super League, will next take on Liverpool on Saturday.