Emma Hayes signed off as Chelsea boss in style as her side claimed a fifth successive Women’s Super League title with a 6-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford, finishing ahead of Manchester City on goal difference.
Having started the final day of a thrilling title race with the same amount of points as City and a goal difference superior by two, Chelsea tore into their task against a United side offering little in the way of resistance, storming into a 4-0 first-half lead with two goals early on and two just before the interval.
Mayra Ramirez was the star, netting a brace and setting up finishes by Johanna Rytting Kaneryd and Sjoeke Nusken.
Melanie Leupolz added a fifth for the visitors just after the break and Nusken’s fellow substitute Fran Kirby, making her final appearance for the west London club, subsequently completed the rout – while City won 2-1 at Aston Villa – as they made it a glorious farewell for their manager ahead of her departing to take charge of the United States’ women’s team.
It is the seventh WSL title in total and 14th major piece of silverware of Hayes’ remarkable 12-year tenure at Chelsea, which earlier this month there looked every chance would conclude with a trophyless season.
That was after losses in the League Cup final to Arsenal and semi-finals of the FA Cup to United and Champions League to Barcelona was followed by a 4-3 league defeat at Liverpool.
But Hayes’ side then responded to City going down 2-1 at home against Arsenal by thumping Bristol City 8-0 and then won 1-0 at Tottenham to move into top spot before cementing it with this stunning display to extend their record stretch as champions.
For Marc Skinner’s United, it was a sobering afternoon six days on from winning the FA Cup, which sees them end up fifth in the WSL table, a year after finishing as runners-up.
