Reaction: Chelsea's "grind" wins out at Wembley
Emma Hayes' side weren't at their best against Manchester United, but victory sums up a season where often they've had to dig in and show their winning mentality
"We honestly didn't have our best game today," said Sam Kerr.
"We are really disappointed with our performance today. As a collective, it was not good on our behalf," followed Jess Carter.
"We weren't at our best," added Erin Cuthbert.
If you didn't watch the game and only read the quotes, you'd be forgiven for thinking Chelsea lost Sunday's FA Cup final, but it was once again Emma Hayes' side who lifted the trophy - for a third year in succession - in front of a record Wembley crowd.
The fact they weren't at their best, and for at least 60 minutes that was true, sums up what this Chelsea side is about right now, and perhaps what it's been about all season, with a lingering feeling bar the odd game they have never quite found what they've been looking for.
As Hayes herself quipped post-match, long-serving coach and General Manager Paul Green said it was the "worst half of FA Cup football we've had" to Hayes at half-time, but Marc Skinner's Manchester United weren't able to put them to the sword.
It was a game that throughout summed up where the two teams are at as despite another impressive performance which shows their progress, United succumbed to a second consecutive 1-0 defeat.
But given last season's meetings ended 6-1 and 4-2 in favour of Hayes, a first major final for United, plus the almost guaranteed Champions League spot with two leagues to spare and a bullish hour where they took the game to the more experienced squad of winners gives plenty of reason for optimism.
For Chelsea, they showed the dogged determinedness that has made them serial winners, the sort of determinedness that lacked in their Continental Cup final defeat to Arsenal earlier this year.
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United were at it from the off, showing little fear in their first major final appearance. Leah Galton's disallowed goal inside 30 seconds set the tone, but chances came and went for her, Alessia Russo, Nikita Parris and Millie Turner as Skinner's side failed to capitalise on an impressive first half.
Skinner said post-match the defeat would "fuel us" going forward, and he spoke about the "connected and focused" mindset of players and staff linking arm in arm on the pitch to watch Chelsea pick up another trophy and another haul of medals.
Hayes meanwhile knew from the off her side weren't at it, and pointed to a busy schedule which saw them play midweek as the primary reason behind her side's sluggish first half which saw Kerr isolated and Mary Earps untroubled bar one looping Lauren James header.
“When I watched the kick-off and we didn’t execute it well, or the second or third phase, then they scored, I thought ‘this is going to be a long game'," said Hayes.
"Nobody really understands that nobody plays more games than Chelsea year on year. That was our third game in seven days. Manchester United had a week in between. It is so difficult to play again and again. We were just off everything in the first half. It’s the execution of the tactical work and that’s physical. I said to the girls at half time that ‘this is the grind.’ We have done it before. Yes, Manchester United had the first half, but we had the second half."
Hayes even admitted she felt tired herself and pointed to another game this midweek before a crunch game against Arsenal next Sunday which may well decide the destiny of the Barclays Women's Super League title.
The Chelsea head coach again used the word "grind" later in her post-match press conference, pointing to how "hard work matters for me" and she was proud of how her players rolled their sleeves up.
Chelsea went with a back four rather than a back three, but United's press was executed well. Nikita Parris gave Niamh Charles a tough time down the right, while Chelsea being pulled put of position gave Ella Toone the freedom to roam, while Galton often joined Russo up top to form a two-vs-two against Chelsea's centre-backs.
Chelsea were unable to get in behind United. Guro Reiten and Lauren James were handled well by Ona Batlle and Hannah Blundell, leaving Kerr isolated as Chelsea's midfield three of Melanie Leupolz, Erin Cuthbert and Jessie Fleming were left more often busy defending than attacking.
United were constantly able to find pockets between Chelsea's midfield and defence, but could never find the opener. Whether it was Galton's disallowed strike, the close penalty call on Parris or the outstanding Ann-Katrin Berger save to deny Millie Turner, the near misses made Chelsea's eventual winner feel all the more likely.
Skinner rued one switch off from his team as substitute Pernille Harder ran in behind Blundell, with Maya Le Tissier playing her alongside, the Dane able to square the ball for Kerr to tap home her only meaningful chance of the game.
Kerr took the plaudits, but it was Harder who changed the game, and offered a reminder of what they have missed so much this season, and what they may miss permanently from the end of the season.
While Chelsea were unable to run in behind United, as Skinner alluded to as their biggest strength, Harder's introduction changed that, and she could have scored twice herself before setting up Kerr who was no longer isolated in attack.
United's chances kept coming as several goal line scrambles denied them at the death, but both manages nailed the feelings post-match. Hayes was right that this was a victory for grind and hard work, while Skinner was right to state this was still a progressive day for Manchester United, and he's more firm in his belief than ever that "this team will win trophies, I've no doubt."