English clubs struggle to compete with financial might of European clubs, says Emma Hayes

[ASFN Admin]

Emma Hayes says the reason English clubs have struggled in the Champions League is because European clubs have enjoyed "double" the finances and investment over the past decade. Arsenal were the first and only English team to be crowned European champions back in 2007, when Hayes was assistant coach. Since then, French club Olympique Lyonnais has dominated proceedings, winning seven of the last 10 editions, with Germany's Frankfurt picking up one title and Wolfsburg the other two. Hayes has twice guided Chelsea to the semi-finals in 2018 and 2019, but it is the trophy that has eluded her. After missing out on a Champions League place for the 2019-20 season, on Wednesday they begin their first European campaign in more than a year in the last 32 against newcomers, Portuguese champions Benfica. Hayes has not hidden her ambition to go all the way this time, but said she thought there were "probably six other teams" who were capable of doing so too. Despite Chelsea adding the likes of Sam Kerr and Pernille Harder, who scored nine goals in the competition for Wolfsburg last season, she still insists that European clubs have had the upper hand from an investment standpoint. Exclusive: Pernille Harder on why Chelsea is the 'perfect' move "The level of investment for those teams in Europe has been significant," Hayes said of the last decade. "When you consider Lyon, the support and investment - you cannot compare that to anyone else. Clubs like Barcelona, Wolfsburg, PSG, they’re all on a financial level above the English clubs in terms of spend." She added: "I think if you knew the finances, they are probably double that of English clubs. I’m not saying I don’t have quality in our ranks but you can’t just acquire one or two players to be at that level. You have to build towards that and I think depth is the key. Hence the reason I have a top-heavy squad, because I don’t believe you can play multiple players back-to-back, plus internationals, and compete deep into the Champions League. Look at Lyon last year, they played what they consider to be their third-choice No 9 in the final, nobody has that resource. "We have built a team over time. I hope that the additions we made this year and the collective wisdom we’ve developed that we can progress one stage further [to the final]. That’s what we aspire towards and we’re very much looking forward to getting going, it’s been a long time coming." Hayes may be without Kerr for the tie, confirming the striker is travelling to Portugal but needs another 24 hours to assess the bruised hip she suffered after scoring a hat-trick in their league win over West Ham on Sunday. Manchester City, the only other English side competing in the first-round proper, also play away in their first of two legs against Swedish champions Goteborg. Over the last two years, City have exited the competition in the rounds of 32 and 16, and Goteborg were one of the more difficult draws. But like Chelsea, Gareth Taylor's side have strengthened this summer, with Lucy Bronze and Alex Greenwood, both champions with Lyon, joining their ranks - along with World Cup winners Rose Lavelle and Sam Mewis. While Lavelle is unavailable after suffering a knock in their win over Everton on Sunday, goalkeeper Ellie Roebuck said these players' experience would help boost their chances. "Over the past few years we've been disappointed with being knocked out in the early stages and as a club that's not ideal, not what we want," she said, "But I think having the likes of Alex, Lucy, Sam, bringing them in in the summer, obviously has brought a lot of experience. We're looking forward to the challenge."

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