Chelsea’s next manager could deny Emma Hayes elusive Champions League trophy

Chelsea’s pain at having their quadruple hopes squashed would certainly be eased by earning a Champions League trophy.

As Emma Hayes prepares to bid farewell to the club she has managed for 12 years, it is no secret that it is just the elusive European title that is missing from her collection.

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For all Hayes’ silverware, the Champions League has proved to be too muchCredit: Getty

But Chelsea have it all to do if they are to become the first English club since 2007 to claim European glory.

They must overcome defending champions Barcelona in the semi-final, in a match which they hope will be nothing like their horrific loss to the Spanish side in the 2021 final.

But even if their performances across the two legs on 20 April and 27 April are strong enough to secure them a place in the final, Chelsea will then face what could be their toughest challenge yet.

The other semi-final will be contested between PSG and Lyon on 20 April and 28 April to determine the other finalist.

Having won the Women’s Champions League a record eight times, Lyon head into the fixture as favourites.

Boasting the likes of Ballon d’Or winner Ada Hegerberg, French legend Wendie Renard and World Cup winner Lindsay Horan, they will be a force to be reckoned with.

But meeting Lyon in the final will be made more difficult, and perhaps more momentous, for one other reason.

Lyon’s manager is none other than the most likely future successor of Emma Hayes at Chelsea: Sonia Bompastor.

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Bompastor won the Champions League with Lyon in 2022Credit: Getty

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As a player, she also picked up over 150 caps for France and made over 100 appearances for LyonCredit: Getty

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Bompastor will surely help Chelsea to put their European failures to bed – but not this seasonCredit: Getty

It is understood Chelsea are close to announcing Bompastor, who has been the boss at Lyon for three years, as their next manager.

But before Bompastor makes the potential switch to English football, she will be out to spoil Chelsea’s party should the two meet in the Champions League final.

The final will be played out at the San Mames Stadium in Bilbao on Saturday 25 May.

Having become the only woman ever to have won the Champions League as a player and a manager, Bompastor is something of a veteran in this competition.

Whilst this is Chelsea’s fourth time in the semi-final stage of the Champions League, Hayes does not have the experience that her successor would bring to their potential final clash.

It is Bompastor’s experience that bodes so well for Chelsea – although they are unlikely to feel grateful for it quite just yet if she happens to deny them a Champions League title.

You can tune into talkSPORT’s Women’s Football Show on Mondays from 7pm on talkSPORT 2.

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