Play.
The manager is purring because of the FA Cup win.
After her team won the Women's FA Cup, Emma Hayes said "London is blue". (1:00)
On a day when pioneers were remembered and celebrated in the 50th Women's FA Cup final, a comfortable victory over Arsenal added a further chapter to their remarkable dynasty of success.
It could have been seven, but it was three. It was a reminder of how far the game has come, a full century after women were banned from playing football by the FA.
The current generation and FA Cup holders are aware of the importance of the past, as this was a celebration of the now. The teams took to the pitch after the teams walked out with the FA Cup. The first women's FA Cup was called the Mitre Challenge Trophy. There was no official attendance for that first final, the players drove themselves to and from the Crystal Palace National Sports Centre, they sat and ate cheese and pickle sandwiches before the game and, despite Lloyd lifting the trophy, they did not show up.
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Cook and Lloyd hugged after placing the trophy on the stand. The players and the stands filled up with eager-eyed young fans as they went through their pre- match routines, while those with memories of the top flight Women's Super League were watching. They played a role in this when they took to the field in front of a rickety wooden stand and started the ball rolling.
The FA's council banned women from playing football in 1921 because the sport was unsuitable for females and should not be encouraged. 53,000 people attended the Dick, Kerr's Ladies' match against St Helen's Ladies at Goodison Park on Boxing Day, 1920, which was a record for a women's game. The ban was lifted in 1971 and here, 50 years later, the team put in a performance to remember.
"This was for them, as they may not have gotten those opportunities," said the manager of the team. They didn't get to play in front of 40,000 fans on live TV, but today is for them. This is available for us because someone hastrodden the path before. We must acknowledge the sacrifice that has been made.
Chris Lee is a member of the team that won the FA Cup at Wembley.
The work done to grow and market the women's game was demonstrated by the fact that so many fans were at Wembley at a time when the country is bracing itself for harsher COVID-19 protocols. The match we had in front of us included two players who finished in the top four in the Ballon d'Or voting, Sam Kerr of the Blues and Miedema of the Gunners.
This match was further proof of the incredible work that has been done by the superb squad assembled there. The FA Cup final was rearranged due to COVID-19, but it was still a great victory for the Blues.
"I think we're getting better, I really do," he said. You can't take that lightly and we used that to our advantage today.
Three seasons after their last FA Cup triumph, the Blues have won again. Three players started both the final and the final edition of the team, and they are all responsible for the evolution of this team. The likes of established internationals Kerr and Leupolz have added to the talent nurtured and brought through by Hayes.
The constants from the last FA Cup triumph to Sunday's were important to this victory. Kirby scored the opener after just three minutes as she capitalized on defensive confusion to shoot past the opposing player. She was a constant threat and could have easily won the Player of the Match trophy.
"I thought that was Fran's best game in a shirt," he said afterwards. "Look after her, she's a national treasure."
Sam Kerr was a hero for the Blues, scoring two goals.
Miedema had a quiet afternoon, but that was because of the brilliant work of Bright and Eriksson. This group has moved on compared to one which reached the final of the European competition last year, and it is due to the recruitment of Kerr, Pernille Harder and Leupolz, as well as the unquenchable thirst of Hayes for more silverware.
Kerr was the Player of the Match for her two goals, the first a well-driven shot past the near post and the second a beautifully lofted chip. "Sam is the best goal scorer in the world, she's full of confidence and brave," said Hayes. She's an amazing human and a superb athlete.
Kerr only arrived back in London on Thursday, having been on international duty with Australia in Sydney, and had a sleepless night on Saturday, but he was outstanding in driving the team back.
The WSL's leading team was comprehensively outplayed by the other teams as they played through the half-spaces and dragged them wide. This was a testament to the tactical shift that was made in the wake of their defeat to Barcelona in the final of the European Championship. She switched to a back five in the blink of an eye, but also moved around with ease, so that the opposition couldn't see her, and she left them grasping for air.
One of the best coaches in the game is also one of the best coaches in this group of players. She played down the significance of this FA Cup final being the last part of the Treble, but also because they are now focused on the next season. They are used to competing for many trophies and success is not accepted.
When the third goal went in, we were purring. The Community Shield is the biggest achievement I've had.
This is a great day for women's football. One hundred years ago we were talking about Dick, Kerr's Ladies, now we're talking about the women from Chelsea. We should be. I'm going to enjoy it. Is the team the most dominant in England? Yes. I thought we were machines. We purred.
This victory is another piece of silverware in the overflowing trophy cabinet, but it was a match as much a celebration of where the game's come from and the women who helped make a match like Sunday's a reality, as it wasAffirmation of this remarkable team led by the incredible
