Emma Hayes will have a link to Chelsea’s dugout and can watch training online as she recovers from a hysterectomy
PAUL GREEN will temporarily fill in with managing Emma Hayes’ Chelsea side as she continues with her recovery from a hysterectomy.
The Blues chief, 45, will continue to be involved in the running of her team who take on Everton away on Sunday.
On Thursday Hayes revealed she would be away from the dugout as she recuperates from a hysterectomy operation carried out last week.
Green, who is the Blues’ general manager, will oversee on-field matters with assistant coach Denise Reddy leading the WSL title-holders from the touchline.
Chelsea will play the Toffees at Walton Hall Park before their first Champions League group stage game against Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Green said: “Emma will definitely still be involved. She’ll be at home watching all the training online.
“I’m sure it’ll be difficult for her to watch the games at home.
“It’s business as usual for us. It just means our leader won’t be there, which is a blow but the staff and the players are experienced enough to get through this situation.
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“You know what sort of character she is. She’ll be linked into the bench on the match days as long as she’s well enough to do that.”
Reddy, 52, who was born in New Jersey, in the United States, has been Hayes’ No2 since 2020.
The former Sky Blue FC boss has 15 years’ worth of top-flight coaching experience working in Sweden and Denmark as well as the USA.
Green added: “Denise is very detailed in her coaching, probably second to none in the way that she speaks to players individually and really goes through the individual analysis of players.
“She’ll be there on the touchline with Emma in her ear on the mic.”
This week Blues midfield star Melanie Leupolz revealed she had given birth to her first child after announcing her pregnancy in March.
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The Germany international, who signed for Chelsea in March 2020 after a six-year Bayern Munich spell, helped the club to a quadruple trophy win in the 2020-21 season.
That season Leupolz made 19 top-tier appearances and helped the Blues win the league title, the Conti and FA Cups and a Community Shield.
And the Kingsmeadow star also helped the club to reach the Champions League final for the first time in their history last year.
When asked about the timeframe of Leupolz’s return to action, Green said: “It’s obviously great news that she’s given birth and to add a new member to the Chelsea family. We’re all delighted for her.
“In terms of her return, that’s something the club are in communication with Melanie directly (about).
“We’re supporting her through her maternity leave so there’s no timeline on that at that moment.
“I think you can see from the pictures she put out, she’s in incredible shape and looking to get back as soon as possible.
“But we’ve got to make sure the timing’s right and the timing’s appropriate when she feels ready and physically she’s able to do that.
“So from our side, there’s no pressure; we want her to come back in when she’s ready.”