Has Hayes' departure been a distraction for Chelsea?

Since Emma Hayes announced in November that this would be her final season in charge, everything has been viewed through the lens of a dynasty coming to an end.

In almost every news conference since announcing her departure, Hayes and her players have been asked about the importance of ending her tenure in charge with silverware.

With Chelsea’s hopes of the Women’s Super League title taking a significant blow with defeat by Liverpool on Wednesday, the Hayes era looks set to fizzle out with a trophy-less final campaign.

“I don't think you can ignore the elephant in the room,” said former Chelsea and England midfielder Karen Carney.

Wednesday’s defeat was Chelsea’s third in the league - no team has ever come back to win the division before with that many losses.

Opta’s ‘supercomputer’ now estimates that Chelsea have just a 9.3% chance of winning the league compared to Manchester City’s 90.3% chance.

Carney, speaking on Sky Sports, said Hayes’ imminent departure will be “unsettling” for players.

It has been nearly seven months since Hayes made clear her intention to depart, with her job as the new boss of the United States being confirmed later that month.

They led the division with 13 points from their first five games when the news was made public and still had the league, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup in their sights.

Now the league is their only chance of a trophy after losing the League Cup final and being knocked out in the semi-finals of the other two, and even that is unlikely given they trail leaders Manchester City by six points.

Chelsea do have a game in hand, but only have three league games remaining.

Former Liverpool striker Courtney Sweetman-Kirk questioned whether Hayes’ departure may have acted as a “distraction”.

“'Do you want to do that for her?' has been a consistent line of questioning for these players,” she said on Sky Sports.

“It's not that they've dropped the ball per se but it will be interesting to see in six months, 12 months, whether they feel in hindsight if it's been more of a distraction than it should be for them.”

Over 12 trophy-laden years Hayes had moulded Chelsea into the beast they’ve become.

Hayes' Chelsea have won six Women's Super League titles, five FA Cups and two Continental Cups. She also claimed the league title during the WSL's 'Spring Series' and has a Community Shield win as well.

That she is so embedded in the club makes her departure even more difficult to deal with, said Sweetman-Kirk.

“Players go to clubs for managers,” she said. “When your manager announces at the start of the season that they're leaving, how does it affect those players?

“The players that are out of contract, are they thinking 'I felt safer with Emma and now I don't know where my safety is?'”

Chelsea’s points tally after 19 games is lower than in each of their past three seasons.

“I don't think we can get away from the fact it has affected the squad in some way,” added Sweetman-Kirk.

“It's not that they're throwing the towel in but these are all the things you have to deal with as a footballer and if you're unsettled that then manifests on the pitch."

Carney and Sweetman-Kirk’s comments came after Hayes said she thought the title race was “done” following the 4-3 defeat at Liverpool.

Hayes’ reaction took both by surprise.

“We're normally used to seeing Emma so defiant,” said Sweetman-Kirk. “It felt weird,” added Carney.

Carney said this year “just feels different” for Chelsea, who have won each of the last four league titles.

Having to play in four competitions has proved a difficult test of Chelsea’s endurance, but in other seasons they’ve been able to weather the storm.

“They've had four titles and they've had injuries but I've always felt across all the rest of the seasons that there's been something in it and I've always felt Chelsea could.

“Whether it's fatigue or not I always felt Chelsea could find a way but I didn't feel that today.”