Chelsea boss Emma Hayes reveals why Blues only have 'small' chance of winning WSL title following Barcelona Women's Champions League heartbreak

Hayes suggested there is now only a "small chance" that the Blues will finish 2023-24 as WSL champions, having gone into the campaign chasing a fifth successive league crown.

Chelsea trail Manchester City by six points but have two games in hand - against Liverpool this week and later Tottenham in the final week of the season - that could eradicate the gap. But City's superior goal difference, seven better than Chelsea's as it stands, still gives them the advantage. The Blues must also ensure there is no hangover from the disappointment of their Champions League semi-final defeat to Barcelona on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference ahead of Wednesday's clash with Liverpool, Hayes said: "We are not in the driving seat, we don't have the goal difference, we have to catch up. We've always known we were going to be playing catch-up. It's not anything we haven't prepared for."

Manchester City are hoping to win their first WSL title since 2016 and only their second overall since joining the league a decade ago. Gareth Taylor's team have bounced back in a big way since finishing fourth last season and have put themselves into position by winning 14 successive league games since November.

Having seen her Champions League dream come to an end still unfulfilled, all Hayes can do now is hope her time at Chelsea before taking over the USWNT finishes with one last WSL title. There are no guarantees of that even if they do win all remaining games, but doing so would certainly put huge pressure on Manchester City, who must yet face Arsenal in one of their two outstanding fixtures. Meanwhile, Chelsea will host Bristol City and later finish the season against Manchester United at Old Trafford in addition to the aforementioned Liverpool and Tottenham games.