Chelsea boss Emma Hayes sends 'get paid' message to Hannah Hampton after Lionesses goalkeeper stars in Conti Cup semi-final victory over Man City

Lauren James scored the only goal of the game as Chelsea defeated WSL rivals City to reach the Continental Cup final for the fifth year running. While James was the star up top, the Blues had Hampton to thank between the sticks, with the Lionesses goalkeeper making several fine saves throughout the 90 minutes to keep the scores at 1-0. And Hayes recognised her "superb" efforts after the full-time whistle, joking that "that's what you get paid for".

Speaking to reporters after the match, the Chelsea boss said: "Hampton was superb, that's what you get paid for. Whole team deserves credit for digging in. We weren't at our best, weren't at our freshest, but it was gutsy from us."

Pressed on Hampton's display, Hayes added: "It was absolutely superb from Hannah from start to finish. It brings confidence to the back-line. Her ability to play out from the back plus making saves like she did, she is growing in a Chelsea shirt and her alongside Sjoeke Nusken were players of the match for us."

Chelsea will face Arsenal in the Conti Cup final later this month in what will be a repeat of last year's finale. It is, incredibly, Hayes' fifth in a row as Blues boss, as she is still in line to win a near-unprecedented quadruple in her last season before taking over the reigns at the USWNT.

Those hopes were dealt a hammer blow in that matchup on Thursday, though, with Mayra Ramirez forced off after just 34 minutes following a problem in her upper leg. The Blues already have Sam Kerr and Mia Fishel out to ACL injuries and can't afford their record signing to suffer the same fate as they enter the business end of the season.

That quadruple charge resumes on Sunday, when Hayes takes her side to Everton in the quarter-finals of the FA Women's Cup. The Blues are then in WSL action against London rivals Arsenal on March 15, where any slip-up could be pounced on by City, who remain level on points with Chelsea after 15 matches.