Hayes vows Blues will recover from title setback

Emma Hayes is confident Chelsea will bounce back from their setback at Manchester City by finishing the job against Lyon.

After defeating the European champions 1-0 in the first leg of their Women's Champions League quarter-final earlier in the week, the Blues slipped to a 2-0 defeat at title rivals City this afternoon. 

The result saw the holders slip to third in the Women's Super League having started Matchday 16 top of the table. 

But Hayes, 46, has vowed to rally her troops ahead of Lyon's visit to Stamford Bridge on Thursday night. 

Speaking to Chelsea's official website, she said: "The team will be ready for the week. We have to move on as quickly as possible. 

"My job now is to get the team recovered as quickly as possible. 

"I want the players to do what they do so well in the way they look after each other and recognise what it takes to go again. 

"I know exactly how this team will respond to what they will all describe as disappointing. For that reason, no matter the result, they're champions in my heart."

First-half goals from Filippa Angeldahl and Lauren Hemp were enough to see off Chelsea at the Manchester City Academy Stadium. 

Hayes was quick to admit the opening 45 minutes had simply not been good enough but also stressed it was her side's third away fixture in the space of a week. 

The Blues boss added: "It wasn't a game of a million chances but we were so sluggish first half. I'm not frustrated with them. We just weren't at our best.

"I'm not going to dig my girls out. We had an honest conversation at half-time. 

"We talk about goals and results but I'm going to focus on the process and what we delivered in the second half in preparation for Thursday."

Chelsea are now a point adrift of league leaders Manchester United, who are ahead of City on goal difference. 

They have a game in on hand on both Manchester sides but travel to in-form Aston Villa next weekend on the back of hosting Lyon. 

Villa remain fifth in the table after hammering rock-bottom Leicester 5-0 at Villa Park. Alisha Lehmann and Rachel Daly both bagged two apiece following Kenza Dali's early opener.