Emma Hayes ‘relieved and exhausted’ after ‘ugliest’ Chelsea performance in win over Lyon in Champions League

Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has heaped praise on her side after they secured their spot in the last four of the Champions League after a dramatic win over eight-time winners Lyon at Stamford Bridge. It was her side’s most character building but also ugliest performance, said Hayes, and it had left her relieved and exhausted. Ad Hayes’ side went into the second leg with a slender advantage following Guro Reiten’s first-leg strike at the Groupama Stadium, but goals from Vanessa Gilles in normal time and Sara Dabritz in extra time had seemingly seen Sonia Bompastor’s side through.

TransfersTottenham ready to appoint Kompany as Conte replacement — Paper Round6 HOURS AGO However, an intervention from VAR saw Chelsea awarded a penalty in stoppage time of extra time and Maren Mjelde remained composed to send the tie to penalties. There, Ann-Katrin Berger saved two spot kicks – from Wendie Renard and Lindsey Horan – as Hayes’ side set up a last-four showdown with Barcelona. And the Chelsea manager said post-match that she didn’t watch the penalties until she was forced to do so by Reiten, adding that the performance showed both great character and also Chelsea's ability to win ugly.

«I didn't want to watch the shootout until Guro [Reiten] made me,” said Hayes. “We have never won a penalty shootout as a team so can you imagine what was going on in my mind? »I was forced into every substitution tonight — they were injuries in every case. I had to be so conscious even in extra time that the penalty takers were on the pitch.

«I didn't see a goal in us, to be honest. When I see Lyon's subs coming on, world-class talent one after another, we managed the best we could given the circumstances. It was the most character-building performance,