Emma Hayes explains her Chelsea headache following Beth England departure

Chelsea visit the Emirates on the opening weekend of the Women’s Super League on Sunday, where almost 45,000 fans are expected for the derby for the top of the table clash – but Emma Hayes still has a problem on her hands.

With Blues sitting top of the table and the Gunners close behind, Hayes has to think carefully with her selections, with so much talent in the team – despite the departure of Beth England.

Hayes’s squad has been reduced in size with the departure of Bethany England across London to Tottenham and she’s explained the decision to let the Lionesses striker leave.

Hayes said: “Beth is a top player but every one of my players are too good to sit on the bench.

“Finding the right time for a player and a club to move in another direction isn’t always simple. It was the right time for us and the right time for her.

“We have players that can fill that – Fran Kirby, Lauren James, who can play down the middle. Of course it would be even better if we could have Beth England as well but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s the right thing to do for her and us.

“I wish Beth well but I also know that we’ve got a lot of top players also driving me mad every day to play. I can only pick 11 and managing that is challenging so it probably gives me one less headache.”

Who will win the Women’s Super League this season? Have your say in the comments!

After bringing in xx during the January transfer window, Hayes doesn’t expect any more arrivals for the rest of the month and has hailed the return of Melanie Leupolz from maternity leave as almost equivalent to a new signing.

‘Doing business in January isn’t our preference,’ she said. ‘We prefer strategically to work in the June transfer window and our work is about getting that part done. Melanie Leupolz is a new signing, it feels like that having watched her today in training. It’s not going to take her very long.

‘Can I envisage another player through the door? Not really. However things do happen in football and if something presented itself then maybe but I can’t really see it.’