Chelsea boss Hayes jokes she is ‘not Bielsa’ ahead of Champions League clash with Benfica
EMMA HAYES has joked that she has not been sending staff up trees before Chelsea’s first-leg Champions League test with Benfica.
The Blues boss made the light-hearted quip in reference to the Spygate drama involving Leeds boss Marcelo Bielsa and Frank Lampard’s former side Derby County.
In 2019 the Elland Road gaffer was at the centre of a huge stir when a Leeds United employee was spotted watching a Rams training session.
Bielsa went on to claim all responsibility after admitting it was a common practice in his homeland Argentina.
However, Hayes, 44, whose players face a Benfica side making their tournament debut, is taking a conventional approach to research on her opponents.
Hayes said: “I’m not Marcelo Bielsa, I haven’t sent anyone up in the trees.
“For us we just have a wealth of different resources and I have got scouts and coaches who have been able to analyse.
“We have been watching Benfica and we have seen quite a lot of them but you don’t really know an opponent until it starts and you get a feel for what the game is like.”
Chelsea, unbeaten in the WSL so far this year, will be up against some stiff competition
Aside from WSL rivals Manchester City, other opponents include Wolfsburg and seven-times Champions League winners Lyon.
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The French giants, who won the trophy last term, hold the record for the most wins in the tournament.
To date, a British club has triumphed once in the contest’s 19-year history with Arsenal claiming the trophy back in 2006-07.
And the furthest Chelsea have reached is the semi-finals in 2018-19.
Hayes believes the lack of success for Britain’s domestic sides may be down to investment.
The Blues boss added: “The level of investment for those teams in Europe has been significant.
“When you consider Lyon, the support and investment you cannot compare that to anyone else. Clubs like Barcelona, Wolfsburg and PSG.
“They are all on a financial level above the English clubs in terms of spend.
“However we have built a team over time and one that has gone to the latter stages in two semi-final appearances.
“I hope that the additions we made this year and the collective wisdom we’ve developed that we can progress one stage.”