Chelsea say farewell to ‘magician’ Ji So-yun but their future is bright

When Emma Hayes walked into the press conference room after Chelsea’s 3-2 extra-time defeat of Manchester City in the FA Cup final, she had Ji So-yun’s shirt in her hands. It was signed ‘To Emma’ and the manager placed it on the table in front of her in tribute to her departing midfielder.

The South Korean, who has been at the club for eight years and is one of Chelsea’s longest-serving players, has been telling Hayes she wants a statue.

“I can’t give her a statue but I want her to know that I am honouring her in the best way I possibly can by putting her front and centre,” said an emotional Hayes. “If I could, I’d put Drew [Spence] and Jonna [Andersson] there, side by side. I think I realised today that they’re going, and I want to cry because I’m so gutted to lose three brilliant people.”

Ji, 31, has been the fulcrum of the attack, helping the club to each of their 11 major trophies in the WSL era. Filling the hole is nigh-on impossible. Hayes said it was important not to even try to replace her like-for-like. However, part of the solution can be seen in the growing influence of the 23-year-old Erin Cuthbert.

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“Oh for sure she is [the future of Chelsea’s midfield]”, said Hayes. “And desperately needed too. We’ve lost Ji and Drew and Melanie Leupolz, who will be back, I might add, if she’s listening; she’s going to remind me that she’ll be back the minute that baby comes out.”

Cuthbert has been a powerhouse in the closing stages of the season, shifting into a more central role after being the workhorse who would fill in wherever necessary.

“Erin’s in her home,” said Hayes. “It was always going to be her home. We have a plan, we’ve