Hayes after unhealthy end to Chelsea tenure: ‘I’ve got my mojo back’

Emma Hayes has said the stress of the Chelsea job made her feel “unwell” by the end of her tenure as manager of the west Londoners.

Hayes left Chelsea in the summer after a 12-year stint as manager of the WSL Champions, but she returns to England for the first time since taking over as manager of the United States women’s team. Her side will face the Lionesses on Saturday at Wembley in a friendly.

Speaking at an event in Camden, Hayes spoke about the perks of managing in international football:

“I don’t have to sacrifice the things that made me healthy,” Hayes said. “I didn’t feel healthy at the end, I actually felt unwell at the end of my time at Chelsea.

“It wasn’t pressure, it was the stress and toll it took on me and doing that during menopause was even harder.

“To get on top of all of those things, I’ve got my mojo back and my smile and enjoyment back which I didn’t realise I had lost.”

Hayes also commented on her excitement at seeing England manager Sarina Wiegman again and the strange feeling of coming up against so many players she used to win so much with:

“I’m looking forward to seeing Sarina,” she said. “We had a great relationship when I was at Chelsea. She’s someone I really look up to, and someone who’s done an amazing job for football in this country and for the Lionesses. So I look forward to giving her a hug on Saturday and saying ‘hi’.

“Of course I need to go through a weird moment when the national anthems are being played. I’ll hum along to it (God Save the King) being the English person I am, but also the same for the US one because I love it, I love both anthems.

“Beyond that weird moment and coming up against players I’ve gone to war with, it’s business come kick-off. I hope it’s an entertaining game and a sell-out.”