Chelsea vs Manchester United | Highlights | FA Women's Super League 18-05-2024

She's got everything for a centre forward. She's strong, tenacious, explosive and obviously, on the day of all days today where Chelsea need goals, she'll certainly provide that. She's a leader from the front and pulls everyone along with her. Well, we welcome viewers from main events as well to what is going to be a very exciting final day in the Women's Super League season and Emma Hayes in her last game in charge of Chelsea. She's secured the most games, the most wins, the most titles of any manager in Women's Super League history. So, the referee this afternoon, Rebecca Welsh. Well, this is all or nothing. But ahead of kick-off, the players from both teams take the knee. The message clear, there is no room for discrimination. Well, here we go then. The most anticipated game of the season and it all will Chelsea currently have a better goal difference than Manchester City. Already they're trying to find a way through for Ramirez but completely when Emma Hayes said they were out of the title as well. Look at where they are now, leading the way. They know what they need to do today. Right, looking for the cross, Ramirez! What Chelsea wanted. Not even two minutes on the clock and the title. This is, as a player, what you dream about the night before the game. The visualisation, what you're thinking about. Right, and absolutely fantastic down this left-hand side. Looks renewed in these last few games of the season. It's a peach of a ball in. I said about Ramirez, she's explosive, she's tenacious. Most importantly, she knows where the back of the net is and this is the perfect scenario for Chelsea scoring at Old Trafford and Manchester. That's going to reverberate, trust me, down the M6 and Manchester City will know about that very, very quickly, believe you me. Well, it's a goal that not only impacts this game... And here comes Chelsea again. Good on Atissier, but Chan's still alive. He's to the right, he looks to turn and find a bit of space. Macquarie was there and it rebounded. In for a goal kick, but again, Chelsea, they look hungry, don't they? Yeah, they know that it's in their hands to an extent, with the goblet. No pulse. They're looking for Ramirez again. And here is Riton Connery who's got space for Chelsea. It's Riton Connery! This is the dream start for Chelsea who are looking to become champions again and they look set to do it as well. What a start. It's a brilliant start from Chelsea, but defensively from Manchester United, it comes from not winning your battles from the head of them, Milly Turner with Ramirez. It's a fantastic run off the shoulder of Blundell by Riton Connery and then when Mary Earps is charging out, she makes herself big. It's such an acute angle, but this is such a calm and composed finish to cross the goalkeeper. Well, look at what it means to Emma Hay. The worst possible start for them in the opening ten minutes. And they look like they're about to get another one. Chelsea, space over them. It's Guru Raiti who couldn't quite defend it by Jade Riviere. Really, really good defending, but it had to be, didn't it? The goal was waiting for that ball to be put in the net again for a third time by Chelsea. Corner. It's a good header! Emile Letizia with a brilliant opportunity for Manchester United to try and get back in this game. That looks like a well-worked corner. You see the bunch of three in the middle. Emile Letizia makes that near post run. See what she's looking to do, just guide it on behind her. Crossbar. Macario. Good delivery. Garcia doesn't get anything on that. There's Chelsea players, a number of Chelsea players floating in that back stick area, whether it be... I think that ball was actually meant for her. She went into the goal to come back out. Ramirez. The one from Ramirez. I just wondered if she was going to just flick it backwards into the path of Macario behind her. 18 major trophies and Sir Alex Ferguson who is watching down. He, of course, secured 38 major trophies as well in his time at Manchester United and he is a legend here at Old Trafford. The stand which he will be looking straight at, the Sir Alex Ferguson stand. The smile on his face as well. That's what Emma Hayes has done so well with a lot of her players. We saw her manage Lauren James for a period of time and it will be the same for Macario going forward. She'll need to be... ...especially for next season. Ramirez just on the attack here for Chelsea. Looking to try and get away from Turner and he pulls it down. Looks to the referee but she didn't see anything wrong with it. I'll tell you what. On first thought, I thought that was a penalty. Lovely bit of skill. Drops the ball around one side, runs the other. Used that strength, that power that I've spoken about. Ramirez is trying to get away from Turner. But Chelsea in cruise control and surely the title is theirs. By your reckoning, P, she likes hat-tricks. So only two more to go. But for me, this battle with Ramirez and Milly Turner, I think Milly Turner's fearful because of what's just happened. She probably knows that she could have given away a penalty. But initially, great touch and turn by Ramirez. The power, the technical ability on the ball. Then Milly Turner, she knows she's in trouble if she brings her down. And then the presence of mind by Ramirez to put that back across the box. But like I say, certainly I think Milly Turner's got in the back of the mind the fact that she could have given away a penalty. Ramirez. Here is Richard Connery. Now to Ramirez. Well, Chelsea, they fight and they fight and they never, ever give up. At one point, they thought they were out of the title. They have got their hands on silverware, surely. And Mayra Ramirez with her second of the afternoon. Absolutely scared stiff. Look at that from Emma Hayes as well over to the Chelsea fans. When she gets on the ball here, don't get me wrong, she's clever by the way. Initially, the way that she just waits on the edge of the box. Again, Milly Turner doesn't, doesn't want to get involved with the battle. A little slight manipulation of the ball. A little tug on the shirt. But they know that they can't bring her down. And at this point, it's about, can you dispatch this? Go back across. Mary Earps. Yes, you can. And that's what it means to Chelsea and Emma Hayes. Noticier. Made by Carter. I can hear the Manchester United fans wanting a little bit of excitement right at the end. But that will be that for the opening 45 minutes. What a first half performance from Chelsea. Who are in cruise control to lift the Women's Super League. Cruise control to lift the Women's Super League trophy. This afternoon here at Old Trafford. And Mark Skinner already, Courtney making a change. The midfield have got to help out. They're trying to get through past Jean-Louis Vieira. And here it is. Well, chance after chance. And Chelsea have got a fifth. But what a way to start the second half. They started exactly how they finished the first half. Chelsea in control. And huge smiles on the faces of the Chelsea players. Because they know what this means. Yet again, being exposed in wide areas. Jane Riviere does well initially. I spoke about the midfield coming back in. Not tracking the runners. You see that here. Also, just in general, the 1v1 battles for Manchester United. They've not come out top at any point. I spoke about those midfield runners. Make sure you're tracking your runners well. Leopold's there. Comes from deep. She stays alive. While the Manchester United defence and midfielders might not. She does. And it's a fantastic way for Chelsea to yet again start the half with an early goal. Just under a minute and a half played in the second half. And Chelsea have already extended their lead to five goals. This has been an absolute masterclass from Chelsea. This has been everything and more that Emma Hayes would have wanted from her side. It has. And I don't want to take away from Chelsea. It's been absolutely brilliant. The way that they've put their foot on the gas. They've not looked back. But Manchester United are going to be... So here are the changes then. Heidi Bieber-Jones and Sophie Ingle. The two who will be coming on. And it will be Mayra Ramirez. It's a bit of a conversation. But certainly suits Erin Cuthbert, the right-footer, better. It will be Cuthbert. But she lifts it into the stands. Not the best free kick she's ever taken. Certainly she'll be disappointed with herself. In a good position. Or at least try and hit the target. But it was all... As you can see. Looking. A little bit. She came out early. She will have been able to hear them loud and clear. Thomas Lawrence. She's got options. And Frank Kirby takes over. Back to Ingle. Lawrence leaves it. It's unstoppable. I love it. It's made me a little bit emotional, to be honest. For Frank Kirby to have that moment. It was almost written, wasn't it? For her to be able to come on. Chelsea be... Signing off with a goal in that celebration. With her teammates. With the fans. That's, I think, the reason why people love football. Why they watch it. Why they're so invested in it. Because it's not just about the game. It's about the people. It's about the players. And what it means to everyone. And, yeah. That was a lovely moment. But also. A wonderful goal, by the way. I think Lawrence initially, when she picks this up. Does very well with the touch. Then. This ball. The third man run. The fact that Lawrence leaves it. And then. Frank Kirby does so, so well. How many times have we seen this? Through her Chelsea career. Calm and composed. Slots it in the back of the net. Passing area. Comes over. Looking for Lucia Garcia. Sights. Set on goal. Rushed in. That touch, by the way. To set her up. It's a nice touch. Sits up. Perfect. Just gets underneath it. I think she celebrates onto the pitch. When the full-time whistle goes. Here's Lawrence. Looking for the header. And it's straight into the hands of Irks. Physios and the doctors will be making sure. The cross for Frank Kirby. Leaves it now for Beaver Jones. Beaver Jones, who was trying to go to the near side. It was a good save by Mary Irks. I'll tell you what. They might be just about to. Chelsea substitutes. They all know it. Chelsea. She bows out in style. And Chelsea have done it in style. Six goals. They knew exactly what they needed to do. They fought. And they fought. They never gave up. This is the moment for Chelsea. As luck would have it, they were right back in the race. This tightest of title races. They did everything and more they did today. And Chelsea are confirmed champions of the Women's Super League for the seventh time. A fifth consecutive time. An incredible story for Chelsea. And deserved winners for me. And right down to the wire. The twists and turns. And again, the game. The way it panned out today. I honestly didn't envisage it. In terms of this scoreline. The same with the other game as well. But Chelsea, you can't deny. They fully deserved it over the season. Yes, they've lost games. There's been twists and turns. You thought Man City were going to win it after Chelsea lost to Liverpool. This is why we love football. It's so unpredictable. You try and predict it. You know, do the job that I do. Fair credit to Chelsea. Emma Hayes, when it got tough. When their backs were against the wall. They stood up. They were counted. And they showed why they are champions. Year after year after year. That mentality. That character. To be able to come back when they were written off. Yeah, it's been excellent. And what a way to obviously send Emma Hayes off to America. Well, this will be a huge and very emotional moment for Emma Hayes. Of course, there are other players leaving Chelsea as well. Frank Kirby, Maren Mielder. They will be lifting another Women's Super League trophy. Another time in their history as Chelsea players. As Chelsea manager as well. What an afternoon for Chelsea. The full-time score. Manchester United nil. Chelsea six. Chelsea are champions. Courtney, thank you. We're down on the pitch. In the melee at the moment. Manchester United and Chelsea fans craning to see a picture. Get a picture with Chelsea fans. With their champions as well. Chelsea players dancing in front of that.