Emma Hayes says she didn’t realize Chelsea would top the Women’s Super League table with a win over West Ham on Wednesday.
Hayes’ side are in second place, one point behind Manchester United with one game less.
But the manager said she wasn’t looking at the league table because ‘your head is flying out of you’.
“I know the dressing room. As far as we’re concerned, we control what we want to do and that’s all we focus on,” Hayes said.
“I didn’t even realize we could be ahead tomorrow if we won until someone told me yesterday.
“You’re asking the wrong person here about all these things because I don’t pay attention to them. Maybe early in my career I was studying paintings [but you] realize your head gets away with you so I learned.
“I never watch them and I couldn’t tell you which of our dressing rooms does either.”
Chelsea have the title destination in their hands as three wins would guarantee a third consecutive WSL triumph, but any slippage would open the door for United and, to a lesser extent, 2018-19 champions Arsenal in third.
Manchester City, six points off the lead with just two games to go, would need multiple results to go in their favor and a big goal difference to have a chance of winning a second WSL title.
Chelsea will face West Ham after winning the Women’s FA Cup for the third consecutive time, beating United 1-0 in Sunday’s final at Wembley.
Fatigue could be a concern saying mental fatigue was more of a concern than any physical toll.
“It would cost you a lot more if you lost,” Hayes said. “When you win everything feels a bit lighter and I said at the weekend our brains were more tired than anything.
“People always assume that fatigue is related to the legs. It’s not even about refreshing our legs for Wednesday, but we have to get our brains working well, have our sleeping habits, because it’s hard to sleep after matches like this on Sunday. .
“We have a sleep specialist, Shona, who we’ve worked with for years. She helps design some of the sleep strategies for us.”
