Emma Hayes lifts lid on Chelsea goalkeepers with new signing "close" to start
Emma Hayes believes her Chelsea team has three world class goalkeepers fighting for one position.
The Blues raised eyebrows in the summer after signing two new keepers, which appeared to leave the squad overstocked between the sticks. Belgium No.1 Nicky Evrard and Lionesses World Cup squad member Hannah Hampton both joined the WSL champions, with Germany's Ann-Katrin Berger, in-form Swede Zecira Musovic and Emily Orman also on the books.
Although Evrard and Orman will spend the 2023-24 season on-loan at Brighton and Reading respectively, Hayes still has to balance having three senior goalkeepers over the course of the campaign. Berger has been one of the best keepers in the WSL over the last four years, while Musovic was outstanding at the World Cup.
In Sunday's 4-2 win over Brighton, Berger was given the nod, making two excellent saves from Pauline Bremer. And with Musovic starting the Blues other three league games so far this season, many assumed England's Hampton would struggle for game time.
As well as being part of the England squad at the last two major tournaments, Hampton was also No.1 for Aston Villa as they finished fifth last season, before her move to Chelsea. Yet Hayes revealed after the win over Brighton she is close to a first start for the Blues.
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When the Chelsea boss was asked about how she managed the delicate situation of having to manage two goalkeepers, Hayes leapt in to say she had "three world class keepers."
"She (Hannah Hampton) was close today (to starting)," added Hayes. "She really was close to playing. We also play games on a Monday (behind closed doors) for those that haven't played.
"So everybody has been playing games, a full 90 minutes. So everybody is really well prepared. Hannah is ready to play. Hannah is competing for a spot, for sure."
The Chelsea manager also gave an update on Guro Reiten's injury status. Reiten, one of the Blues standout performers lasts season, missed out on the win over Brighton on Sunday and hasn't played since scoring in the 1-1 draw at Man City earlier this month.
She was spotted at Kingsmeadow watching her teammates get the win, but was wearing a protective boot. Hayes added: "Guro's is an ankle ligament injury, so I don't know (a timescale for her return). She's in a boot, but then that's normal to put people in boots with that (type of injury)."
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