Emma Hayes aims to keep Chelsea evolving with Blues targeting Conti Cup final win against Arsenal

EMMA HAYES wants Chelsea to remain serial winners after they fired a Conti Cup final warning to Arsenal.

Her side bagged four goals in 46 minutes with Sam Kerr netting four on Thursday in a 7-0 dismantling of West Ham.

GettyEmma Hayes’ side have won two of the last three league cup finals dating back to 2020[/caption]

GettySam Kerr netted a first-half hat-trick before and netting a fourth goal against West Ham with Chelsea reaching their fourth Conti Cup final[/caption]

PAFran Kirby got on the scoresheet before coming off shortly before half-time following a knee impingement[/caption]

At times the WSL striker looked unstoppable with her team-mates at their clinical best away from home at the Chigwell Construction Stadium. 

Fran Kirby, Lauren James and Guro Reiten got in on the scoring with the Blues set to face Arsenal in the final at Selhurst Park on Sunday 5 March. 

On Kerr’s performance, Hayes said: “You know my opinion on Sam, she is the best without a shadow of a doubt.

“It’s not just for the work she does in possession, it’s what she does out of possession and she’s relentless with it. 

“Her team behaviours and team actions are second to none

 “All the other things around the box speak for itself.

“Because of the person she is and the work she gives every day to the team, for me that’s what sets her apart from anyone else.”

The match saw Hayes rejig her line-up with Ann-Katrin Berger back in goal. 

Eve Perriset and Magda Eriksson were back in defence and with Kirby also back in their starting 11.

Kerr opened the scoring in the fourth minute for the WSL leaders poking home Guro Reiten’s free-kick after evading her marker. 

Kirby doubled the lead six minutes later, slotting home following a pass from Lauren James.

Kerr took advantage of a loose pass from the Irons defence to wallop the ball past goalkeeper Mackenzie Arnold with Chelsea 3-0 up in 23 minutes. 

That lead became 4-0 when some nervy Irons defending ended with Kerr notching her hat-trick with a close range effort. 

Three second-half goals including Kerr’s fourth and James’ thumping finish saw the visitors race to a 7-0 lead with 25 minutes of normal time left.

On Chelsea’s display and result, Hayes added: “We’ve shown that through this block we can develop players.

“We’ve done that and we’ve given a lot of younger players opportunities to play. 

“We know everything about our seniors and you can see that from this performance. 

“But I believe in serial-winning and to be a serial winner I don’t want to get stuck with just one team all of the time. 

“I have to keep evolving them.

“This has been about evolving us and developing more players to play at the top level. 

“We want to keep winning and for me it doesn’t matter who you play in the final and it’s always a top game. 

“We know at the last Continental Cup final we performed poorly. 

“The expectations on the return will be that we’ve got to be fully prepared to face an in-form Arsenal team.”

An injury to West Ham defender Lucy Parker saw her shift come to an end in the 58th minute

And Kirby made a late first half departure moments after she was seen clutching her knee. 

Hayes said: “It’s just a little bit of an impingement in her knee

“I think she will be alright. It might take a few days to settle down but I don’t know anymore than that.

“The doctor has to analyse it.””

West Ham hope to bounce back when they face Aston Villa in the fifth round of the FA Cup

 Paul Konchesky is expecting a positive reaction from his players in that match on Sunday  26 February. 

The Irons boss said: “It’s disappointing the way we’ve gone out and lost.

“But I think it will bring us together and make us stronger for the rest of the season.”

GettyPaul Konchesky wants to see West Ham bounce back from their loss when they face Aston Villa in the FA Cup after the international break[/caption]

“The worst thing for me now is most of the team will go away on international break.

“I won’t see them until two or three days before the FA Cup and a massive game against Aston Villa.

“We just have to dust ourselves down and get back to work on Monday with the girls staying behind and we will get working.”