MAN UTD WOMEN 0, CHELSEA WOMEN 6
Football does not become more bizarre than post-match after Manchester United had been beaten 6-0 at home by Chelsea who clinched the Women’s Super League title.
Before Chelsea lifted the WSL title at Old Trafford, the vanquished Reds paraded the Women’s FA Cup they won the previous weekend at Wembley.
It was a somewhat subdued celebration coming in the aftermath of a heavy, home humbling by Chelsea who delivered a seventh WSL title for Emma Hayes on her farewell before becoming USA head coach after 12 memorable years with the Pensioners.
Chelsea went into the last day top of the table on the same points total as Manchester City but with a superior goal difference of two.
It looked liked being a gripping and possibly nail-biting final day of the season with Chelsea at Old Trafford and City heading to Aston Villa.
But it turned out to be a procession as Chelsea showed why they have now won the last five WSL titles after hitting the Reds for six as they delivered when needed, the hallmark of champions.
From the moment Mayra Ramirez put Chelsea ahead after 90 seconds, their destiny was never in doubt as they increased their goal difference to seven on the day when it looked as though every goal might count.
Ramirez scored twice, and also on target were Johanna Rytting Kaneryd, Sjoeke Nusken, Melanie Leupolz and legend Fran Kirby on her farewell appearance.
Hayes said: “What a wonderful performance from the team today. I picked a team of leaders from the beginning, and I felt it was absolutely essentially we had the emotional maturity and regulation for a stadium as fitting as this.
“We’ve lost a lot of players today so to have some of them back today, it was just an amazing performance.
“I can’t say it’s my most enjoyable [title] but it’s definitely been the toughest without doubt and for that reason probably the sweetest. I’m just so relieved it’s over.”
Embed from Getty ImagesHayes, reflecting on her time at Chelsea, added: “Great memories, listening to the fans, the connection with the players, I just haven’t got any more to give I know that.
“The hardest thing to do is five in a row because people take their eye off the ball. My legacy is winning while building a team for the future.”
Hayes continued: “To finish here at Old Trafford, I hope to get a glass of wine with Sir Alex {Ferguson] in a minute. Everyone told us we couldn’t. Everyone said girls can’t play, nor can they fill stadiums, nor can they get paid, nor can they create history.
“Not only are we not going away, but we are going to fill them every week. Women’s football now is a serious business and that for me is what it’s about.”
Chelsea captain Mille Bright said: “It was pretty special but when half the country writes you off… we’ve got the monster mentality, we’ve shown it season after season.
“We were given a second chance, they don’t often but you have to take them, and we did. We beat Bristol City, beat Tottenham and we’ve come here and put on a five-star performance to take this title.
“It’s extra special to get it for Emma [Hayes] and the players who are leaving us.
“We were up against a tough opponent, and we needed a 10 out of 10 performance. Every player was incredible.
“That’s our standards, we shouldn’t be underestimated to make this sort of comeback because we’re defending champions.
“It’s been an emotional season for Emma especially. We picked her up [after the loss at Liverpool] like she does for us everyday.”
United manager Marc Skinner pinpointed his side’s lack of physicality was their undoing.
He said: “From our perspective, we lost too many individual duels through our immaturity.
“We made too many mistakes and did not make Chelsea work hard enough for their goals.
“I have to make sure we are not physically outdone as we were against Liverpool and here today.
“Chelsea had everything to fight for and were on the edge. They had too much on the physical side, something I need to fix in the summer.
“Sometimes in the lowest moments, you learn the most and get clarity. I have been there before. There is a gap, and I will use all my coaching nous to bridge it.”
Skinner made one change to the side which beat Tottenham in the Women’s FA Cup final on Sunday.
Melvine Malard came in for Leah Galton who was injured at Wembley.
Mary Earps, Maya Le Tissier and Katie Zelem have played every minute of their WSL campaign this season – and all three started again.
Hayes made three changes to the Chelsea side that narrowly beat Tottenham on Wednesday.
Striker Ramirez returned from injury and started while there were returns for Kaneryd and Jess Carter.
Ashley Lawrence, Maika Hamano and Aggie Beever-Jones dropped to the bench.
Chelsea made a dream start as they took the lead after 90 seconds.
Guro Reiten was sent racing clear down the left before delivering a pinpoint cross for Ramirez to head home from six yards.
And it got even better for Chelsea when they doubled their lead the eighth minute.
Catarina Macario’s through ball released Johanna Rytting Kaneryd who dinked the ball over diving keeper Mary Earps.
United were hi by a whirlwind and would have conceded a third goal inside the opening 10 minutes when Reiten just failed to connect with a low ball across the face of goal.
United almost got a toehold back into the match when Maya Le Tissier headed against the bar from a corner.
Chelsea must have thought the title was in the bag when they went 3-0 ahead in the 44th minute.
Ramirez burst clear on the right to the by-line before firing a low ball to the far post where the unmarked Sjoeke Nusken had a simple tap-in.
The German had only been on the field for three minutes, replacing the injured Macario.
And it got even better for Chelsea in the second of six added minutes when Colombian Ramirez scored her second of the game.
Ramirez burst into the box in between two defenders before firing high past keeper Earps.
If United were looking for an upturn in fortunes from the restart, they were quickly blown apart when Chelsea added a fifth goal in the 47th minute.
Earps made a great save to deny Kanaryd; Reiten, following up, struck the upright before retrieving the loose ball and cutting in back to Leupolz to steer a shot wide of United’s keeper.
There was even time for an emotional goal for substitute Fran Kirby who made it six on her final appearances for Chelsea.
Kirby played a return pass with Aggie Beever-Jones before slotting a shot low to the left of Earps.
United had the chance of a consolation but Lucia Garcia fired over when she ought to have hit the target to provide some solace for a crowd of 28,737.