Key events
Hayes drops her mic as she leaves her final TV interview as Chelsea manager.
Hayes added: “My favourite moment [at Chelsea] was the first FA Cup final.
“My memories aren’t always that clear. It is so overwhelming.”
On the future: “To finish here at Old Trafford, I hope to get a glass of wine with Sir Alex in a minute. So many told us we couldn’t, girls can’t play and we can’t fill stadiums. Not only have we done that but we are making sure we are filling it up every week.”
Emma Hayes told Sky: “What a wonderful performance today. I picked a team of leaders from the beginning. It was essential we had the emotional maturity for a stadium as fitting as this.
“I can’t say it is my most enjoyable but it has been the toughest, for that reason probably the sweetest. I am so relieved it is over.
“I have great memories, listening to the fans, the connection with the players. I haven’t got any more to give, I know that much.
“The hardest thing to do is five in a row as people take their eye off the ball.
“My legacy is winning while building a team for the future.”
Fran Kirby joined Chelsea in 2015 and has gone on to win 16 trophies with the club. She is the women’s team’s top goalscorer and she added another to her tally in the match against Manchester United today. A perfect send off for a club legend.
Emma Hayes is walking around Old Trafford with her son, such a lovely moment for the manager.
Chelsea defender Jess Carter told Sky: “I think for me this is the best trophy we have won… I think it may be some of the worst performances we have had this season
“I think we had to go out and give everything. We didn’t want to have any regrets. Everyone played with a bit of freedom.
“I think we were disappointed when we lost to them in the FA Cup. We had to come and be physical.”
Niamh Charles told Sky: “It’s a proper special day. I am so proud to play for Chelsea.
“We knew we had to focus on what we can control and winning the game first and foremost.
“I don’t think we ever completely lost hope. We were disappointed we let it go out of our hands and we were grateful to get it back.”
One star who may be one who is always consistent and doesn’t always get her plaudits in this Chelsea squad is Jess Carter. The defender is always impressive and at the heart of the team.
The Manchester United squad have stayed out on the pitch to watch the Chelsea celebrations. They look utterly crushed, it wasn’t good enough from them today but they are a squad who are building. They have their first silverware and they just need consistency in the league and these celebrations could be theirs.
Hayes never usually gets involved with the initial lift but you could hear Bright encouraging her to get involved, it was lifted aloft between them both, a really special and emotional moment.
A huge cheer as Emma Hayes receives her medal. Bright and Hayes are holding it together and they lift it together with the golden streamers flying all over them. The backroom staff spray champagne. A special moment for the squad and manager.
Injured players are among those picking up their medals and the likes of Sam Kerr are getting their platform too.
The trophy presentation has been positioned to face the away section where a record number of Chelsea fans have travelled to. It is bang in front of the fans, such a nice touch. The players are now getting their medals now.
Chelsea captain Millie Bright told Sky: “It’s pretty special. When half the country write you off, we always had a monster mentality. We got given a second chance but you have to take it.
“I think the atmosphere is incredible, we had to have 10 out of 10 performances. The players were impressive.”
A word on Manchester City, who must be crushed after the result at Old Trafford. After they lost to Arsenal they still had a +7 goal difference with one game to play. But later that day Chelsea beat Bristol 8-0 to see that goal difference disappear. That meant they needed to win and by a margin. They got the win but couldn’t match Chelsea’s goal haul. Even if Chelsea beat United 1-0 today, City’s 2-1 scoreline would not have been enough. A great march to the title but they just fell short.
To reflect on the Emma Hayes era:
A moment to highlight Chelsea have got this title win over the line with a myriad of injuries. Their star striker Sam Kerr ruptured her ACL in Janaury, striker Mia Fishel had the same injury just weeks after. Mayra Ramirez has been in and out with injury. Captain Millie Bright was also out for a long time with a knee issue. Hugely impressive.
Emma Hayes is going through her squad hugging and celebrating with each of her players. You can see what it means not only to her but the players and fans. The manager and Fran Kirby add a 16th title to their haul over their time at the club.
Chelsea fans, you may owe Stina Blackstenius a pint or two. Her two goals to beat Manchester City a few weeks ago saw Chelsea’s title hopes re-ignited and now they are over the line.
CHELSEA WIN WSL
Emma Hayes has a fairytale ending to her time at Chelsea. The club do so in fantastic fashion. Manchester United blown away. Millie Bright hugs her manager as the Blues wildly celebrate.
Full time: Manchester United 0-6 Chelsea
Chelsea are champions once again after an almost-perfect performance.
90 + 5 min: Man City have beaten Aston Villa 2-1 with that game over. The only way Chelsea don’t win is if they concede seven goals in one minute.
90 + 4 min: The Player of the Match has been announced as Mayra Ramirez. She scored two goals before she was subbed, hard to disagree with the selection.
90 + 3 min: Chelsea have a corner and Kirby takes it quickly, it comes to Lawrence but Earps collects.
90 + 1 min: There will be five minutes added here.
90 min: Beever-Jones flashes the ball across goal but no one is there to hit it home, Chelsea not done here.
89 min: United look to have a consolation goal as Garcia controls really well but her effort is over the bar. There are just under 29,000 at Old Trafford today.
88 min: What an absolute demolition job Chelsea have done at Old Trafford. United completely blown away, they seemed the more likely to score in the last few minutes but Kirby’s effort has put the final nail in their dreadful United performance.
86 min: That is an emotional watch, she slams it home and she is emotional as she runs over to the fans. The supporters now singing her song. A deserved send off for such a special player.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-6 Chelsea (Kirby, 85)
In her last Chelsea game!
84 min: I am unsure if Chelsea have backed off slightly because they know they are so far ahead in the title race but the tempo at which they are playing has definitely gone down a gear. Beever-Jones tries to move forward but she is offside.
82 min: It is all United at the moment, the replacements have added some fire to their attack – particularly through Geyse. She gets it into the box once more but Bright clears.
80 min: United are putting together some lovely stuff but their last touches are just not clinical enough. Geyse looks to cross but it is deflected out for a corner, Zelem takes it but Bright heads clear.
79 min: A pinpoint ball comes in for Garcia but it goes just beyond here, that would have been a corker of a goal. Remember if Chelsea concede that will impact the goal difference and so the Blues will be looking to keep their clean sheet.
78 min: The energy in the crowd has been completely zapped, you can clearly hear every chant from Chelsea fans. This has just been such a poor outing for the hosts, one they will want to quickly forget but they will have to sit with it in the off season. United peel forward and Garcia finds space, beating Bright, but she slips and the chance is gone. United make two changes with Riviere and Williams off for Parris and Evans.
76 min: Man City have restored their lead through Hemp and so now they need to score seven more goals to win the title, as thing stand.
75 min: Nusken is fed a good ball but her effort to cross is deflected out for a corner. Kirby takes it short and it’s played back to Kaneryd, she crosses but it’s cleared well. United quickly counter and they get it into the box but Musovic comes out to collect.
73 min: “Super Fran” is being chanted as Chelsea women’s top goalscorer makes her way onto the pitch for Cuthbert. Reiten is also off for Lawrence.
72 min: Chelsea lose the ball in a good position for United, Geyse tries to get around Bjorn but she does enough to see it out. United have not had a shot since the 26th minute.
70 min: Reiten is standing over the set piece, it hits the wall but rolls over them but Earps collects. The keeper looks to put United on the front foot but Carter has a good recovery run to dispossess Geyse.
68 min: Garcia is given a yellow card for another foul on Nusken, the Spanish international is the brightest in this poor performance from United. Chelsea free kick to come.
67 min: Aston Villa have equalised in the other game, Rachel Daly with the goal, and that means Man City need eight goals now. The Chelsea fans celebrating wildly as the news hits them at Old Trafford.
United make a double change with Geyse and Miyazawa on for Malard and Naalsund.
65 min: The tempo of the game has slightly slowed in the last few minutes. United come forward and Carter gives away a free kick, they take it quickly but it ends with them giving it away to Chelsea. This game highlights United’s uneven season, a really positive Cup run but a disappointing league.
63 min: Will Kirby get some game time in her last Chelsea game? She is leaving at the end of the season but she is not warming up yet.
61 min: Cuthbert takes the free kick but it’s over the bar, another chance gone but as thing stand Chelsea will win the league. City still need seven more goals against Villa, the game still 1-0.
59 min: Kaneryd has a good run into the box but her effort is well defended, it comes to Nusken and Garcia barges her on the floor for a free kick.
58 min: There is a change for Chelsea and it is Ramirez who comes off for Beever-Jones and Leupolz is off Ingle.
57 min: Reiten takes it but it’s poor and just hits the wall, a wasted opportunity there.
Ingrid Kamstra emailed and said: “Is it my imagination or is Ella Toone having a very, very quiet game? She’s hardly featured so far. Rachel Williams also seems fairly quiet (compared to the FA Cup final game).”
She definitely is having a quiet game, you know if she isn’t on the ball and having opportunities then the Untied team aren’t clicking.
55 min: It’s dealt with well by United who try to counter quickly but they are forced back to their back line. It’s not long until the Blues have the ball back and Nusken wins a free kick from a Le Tissier foul.
54 min: The corner is taken short and again it is seen out but this time for a throw in.
53 min: I believe Riviere and Ramirez are okay to continue here and the corner will be taken shortly.
52 min: Reiten is standing over the corner ball and she takes it short to Cuthbert, her cross is blocked out for another corner by Rivierie. But before that is taken she needs to have some treatment. Ramirez is also down with cramp, Garcia helping her out with it.
51 min: Zelem has a nice touch and turn but she is smothered in the box, Chelsea then counter and Ramirez does well in the opposite box to win a corner.
50 min: United’s balloon has certainly been popped. It was a mountain to climb to get back into this goal but Leupolz may have just sunk their ship.
Man City can still win the title but they need to score seven goals with their scoreline still 1-0 against Aston Villa.
48 min: Chelsea kept hitting the ball, Charles effort trickled and hit the post. United defenders don’t clear and Charles sees it back in and Leupolz hits home. Wow. Man City now need seven.
GOAL! Manchester United 0-5 Chelsea (Leupolz, 47)
Oh my, United defence that is awful.
47 min: The United defence needed a re-jig so the change makes sense at half-time, Mannion was also impressive last Sunday. The hosts have the first chance with Garcia on a good run but Charles manages to wrestle it back.
Back underway! Manchester United 0-4 Chelsea
So can United stage an impressive comeback? Or will Chelsea continue their charge to the title? All to come. Blundell is off for Mannion in the second half.