Hayes hails her FA Cup-winning Blues after West Ham cruise

Emma Hayes hailed her Chelsea stars' quick recovery from their FA Cup triumph after they hammered West Ham 4-0 to pile the pressure on their WSL rivals.

Goals from Niamh Charles, Pernille Harder, Sophie Ingle and Erin Cuthbert saw the Blues move back to the top of the table, just two wins away from their fourth consecutive title.

And Hayes believes her players' mental strength was key to the three points.

The Chelsea boss said: "It is so overwhelming the volume of people you have just come across [at Wembley].

"That is the most tiring element, the brains are tired, but I didn't think we showed that tonight. I thought legs and brains were OK."

Hayes made seven changes to the side that beat Manchester United in the Wembley showdown and they struggled to get going in the opening period.

But after a convincing second-half display, the 46-year-old was full of praise for the players she rotated into the team.

Hayes said: "We're a team, it's a squad of players. They're repaying me for that faith and with the number of permutations we've had this season, it's a victory for the whole squad.

"Kadeisha Buchanan has been out a bit and she comes in and Zecira Musovic has been growing, especially in the second half of the season.

"We made some adjustments at half-time, got the second goal quite early on and then the third from a set-piece we had detailed at half-time.

"Making it 4-0 rounded off a good night."