Emma Hayes insists she isn't thinking of a fairytale Chelsea ending as Blues target Champions League glory against 'world class' Barcelona

Emma Hayes insisted she is not thinking about fairytales as she called on her Chelsea team to play with their heads instead of their hearts as they prepare take on European champions Barcelona.

The Blues face the first of a two-legged Champions League semi-final with the Catalans, who knocked them out at the same stage of this competition last season, at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys on Saturday.

Hayes will depart the Blues at the end of the season and is desperate to win the one trophy that has evaded her during her 12 years in charge, but is not allowing herself to think about a magical ending to her tenure.

‘You have to be in it to compete for it. We always knew we would have to face Barcelona at some stage. We’re happy for it to be our turn in the semi-finals.

‘We understand the team and the opponent. They are world class with unbelievable players but I’m not thinking about fairytales.

‘Barcelona are world champions on international level, European champions at club level. They are deserving of all the accolades they have achieved but it’s a football match.

‘There are two legs. All our job has been is to get ourselves in a position to come here in the competition.

‘We won’t do it [win] playing with our hearts, we have to play with our heads.’

Barca have reached the last three finals, winning two - including a 4-0 victory over Chelsea in 2021. Hayes believes they will leave a lasting legacy in the women’s game but added that Catalans have a superior budget to English teams.

‘I think Barcelona’s team will go down in history as one of the greatest women’s teams ever. I always talk with such pride for what we’ve done because I think, when I came into this job, Chelsea were liked ranked 150th in the world, something like that.

‘I think we’re one of the top few teams in the world and we’ve built our team over a long period of time to get to this point. I think it’s been our team that’s built the coefficient for England and done well in the latter stages.

‘I quote, I remember reading Jonas Eidevall saying this about Barcelona and Lyon, trust me, they’re budgets are significantly bigger than any English team.

‘There is still a gap financially between Barcelona and Chelsea and Barcelona and Arsenal and City. I think we are doing really well to be in the position we are in. 

'That’s why I think if our league keeps developing and we keep selling our stadiums and we keep generating revenue and we close the gap financially between the top two in Barcelona and Lyon, then I think we will see more English teams reach the latter stages of the competition.

‘But also I think that Barcelona is a generation that deserves the credit they get, not just Barcelona but Spain. They’ve done amazing things on the pitch. So to be the only team to get a draw against them in four years, I take pride in that. 

'I think people don’t realise how hard it is to play against them. Everything we have learned, we will try to put to our best use tomorrow.’

Hayes will have Lauren James and Millie Bright available for selection with both players having travelled to Spain on Friday. The Blues will continue to be without Nathalie Bjorn and Maren Mjelde, while goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger has joined American club Gotham FC on a permanent transfer.