Emma Hayes: Chelsea's FA Cup winners will 'go down in history'

Emma Hayes believes her current Chelsea side will 'go down in history' after they came out on top in a five-goal thriller against Manchester City to win the FA Cup for a second successive season.

The Blues beat City 3-2 in extra time to defend the competition for the first time in their history and complete another domestic double, having sealed the WSL title seven days earlier.

The triumph represents the 13th major trophy Hayes and Chelsea have lifted over the course of the last seven years.

"Those women, they will go down in history," Hayes said at full time. "I'll look back in 10 years time and I'll be like: 'that group was immense. That was the best team I've ever coached'.

"Totally understand that we always want to talk about perfection in football, but having been on the winning side more often that not, it's about human endeavour and we have a group of people who believe they're not going to be on the losing team, they'll find a way."

Chelsea had led twice over the 90 minutes thanks to a Sam Kerr header and a stunning long range effort from Erin Cuthbert. However, they were pegged back on both occasions on the stroke of half time and full time via goals from Lauren Hemp and Hayley Raso.

Having spent the last month of the season grinding out results to ensure they beat Arsenal to the WSL title, the Blues dug in again and sealed victory in extra time thanks to Kerr's deflected strike.

"I said at extra time: 'I know which team's going to be the winning team'," Hayes added.

"I know that when I lay in bed later I'll be thinking about that moment of the team in the huddle of extra time. I sort of stepped out of it and I could see Magda (Eriksson) communicating, Jonna [Andersson] was coming onto the pitch, the two of them were having a conversation about what we needed to do there.

"It was completely calm. It was leadership at a level that I've worked so hard to try and build and cultivate in the environment that's not about one person - me - making the decisions, but the team as a whole buying into what it takes to win."

The Chelsea players and staff could be seen soaking up their victory at BOXPARK Wembley post-match, with Hayes promising quite the celebration.

"I'm going back with my team and having a long, strong drink," Hayes concluded. "The season's over - I expect to be carried home."

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