Emma Hayes says the 2021 Champions League last defeat to Barcelona fuels her as competitors holders Lyon stand in Chelsea’s manner of reaching the semi-finals this 12 months.

Chelsea had been defeated 4-0 by Barcelona two years in the past in Gothenburg, and Hayes admitted her facet had been naive as the prospect to grow to be the primary British facet to win the competitors since 2007 slipped by way of their fingers.

The Blues now have a shot at redemption as they go into Thursday’s quarter-final second leg in opposition to Lyon at Stamford Bridge with a 1-0 benefit.

Head coach Hayes has laid down the gauntlet for her gamers to ship in opposition to the eight-time winners.

“Certain, I wish to be within the greatest video games so there is no such thing as a doubt [the 2021 defeat] is a motivation for me,” stated Hayes.

“However my motivation is not led by one single factor to be the easiest at one thing, you possibly can’t simply discuss it, now we have to do it on daily basis on the coaching pitch, in each sport and my problem for the group is ‘reveal it, reveal all the pieces you have labored so arduous on to place this membership on this place’.”

Regardless of British groups’ lack of latest success within the Champions League, Hayes believes her WSL champions have greater than sufficient to tackle Lyon at Stamford Bridge.

“We wish these conditions, we wish to be on this sport, and we wish to be able the place we will impose ourselves and our sport in our stadium the way in which we wish to,” Hayes stated.

“We have now numerous expertise too and I believe it is essential for the group as an entire to reveal that, notably in the suitable moments. We have now to have the suitable mentality to start with and now we have to be courageous.

“It’s a must to admire that their (Lyon’s) document speaks for itself but it surely’s essential for us as a group to impose ourselves, be aggressive in the suitable moments, be optimistic in all the pieces we do on and off the ball and we’ll search the chance that is in entrance of us. I do know your complete dressing room may be very a lot trying ahead to it.”

Hayes added: “We all know what to anticipate, it is the champions of Europe over a protracted time frame for an excellent purpose so it isn’t like we’re taking part in a group that isn’t used to being in that place, we all know the risk however we have labored arduous over a protracted time frame.”

Chelsea’s Magdalena Eriksson featured in Sunday’s 2-0 loss to Manchester Metropolis within the Ladies’s Tremendous League because the the Blues had been overwhelmed within the competitors for the primary time since September.

With Thursday night time marking their seventh sport in March, the defender emphasised the significance of not dwelling on defeat with the brief turnaround between fixtures.

She stated: “We’re very skilled in having video games again to again so we all know we will not dwell too lengthy on defeat but it surely’s one thing we can also’t ignore so we have checked out it, we have talked about it, we have handled it and discovered from it and now we have moved on and now we’re prepared.

“The response has been nice. We have appeared inwards, we have parked it and moved on, so now we’re actually excited concerning the [Lyon] sport. I believe taking part in within the Champions League is what us gamers dream about. You are going to see a very hungry Chelsea.”