Chelsea boss Hayes warns: Players have to do their jobs otherwise I’ll get others in to do it

Emma Hayes will be putting the players on alert in training that their place in the starting line-up is doubt if they don't kill off their opponents when they have the chance.

She does not want a repeat of the misfiring in front of goal that saw the Blues draw 1-1 with an injury time equaliser by substitute Adelina Engman at Crawley against Brighton on Sunday.

Hayes said: “The players have to do their job otherwise I’ll get other players to do that job - that’s the reality.

“I’m disappointed with the team, in our inability in front of goal. I can say that the players have to take more responsibility to be even better in training this week.

“They play for Chelsea, they have to deliver - so do I. At the end of the day, it’s my responsibility to make sure they do that. And it starts by getting it right on the training pitch. No one’s place is under threat, they are under contract. I’ll get players from the bench, they are waiting to play.

“But we have to start producing in front of goal, and that’s something that we are going to have to focus more and more on in training.

“We have enough top-class players here. I said to the players that they have to take responsibility for that.

“We can’t dominate the first half like we did, and come in at half-time 0-0 and expect it will be the same in the second half.

“They dropped off even lower. That made it hard. The grass was long, it made getting round them was difficult . But we recovered and I’ll take that. Because I’m not sure we would have found that at the same stage last year.”

Hayes side may be behind Manchester City in the league at the moment, but she is not concerned.

“I have no worries, teams will nick points off each other,” she said.

“You have seen the quality of the league. All I can do is control what we do as a team.”

Next up is a home Continental Tyres cup match against West Ham on Sunday - Hayes is not expecting a walk-over.

She said: “West Ham are another good side, they took Arsenal all the way I think every league game is going to be like that. There won’t be a weak opponent.”

Chelsea have made one signing for this season - Norway’s Guro Reiten, but Hayes is already looking to make additions in the new year.

“We are behind other teams numerically,” she said.

“We don't have the same depth as Arsenal, we have a strategy for the type of players we bring in. It’s all about getting the right players. For us, we felt Guro was the only player that fit that - and what a wonderful player she is.

“We have just got to add to the squad with the right pieces and I’m sure we will do that in January.”

One player who will be hoping to return to action is England star Fran Kirby - but maybe not next week against the Hammers.

Hayes said: “Fran strained her knee in the warm-up in Israel when she had a shot. It’s nothing too bad. She should be training with the group at the back end of the week.

“I don't know if she will be available for the West Ham game, honestly.”