Emma Hayes came out fighting in her press conference ahead of the Continental League Cup final as she insisted Chelsea will continue to be successful in the absence of Roman Abramovich.

The Russian, who has consistently backed the women’s team, announced his intention to sell the club this week amid his country’s on-going war with Ukraine.

Abramovich’s departure raises questions about the future of the women’s team and there is uncertainty over whether the new owner will offer the same financial support.

However, a bullish Hayes was adamant her team will not be negatively impacted by Abramovich leaving as they look to seal a third successive League Cup.

‘Look, it’s business as usual, I stand by this,’ Hayes said. ‘Chelsea has been a hugely successful club in my time here and I think Chelsea will continue to be a hugely successful club.

‘Turbulence, for me, is gonna come in a time [where] it’s really difficult worldwide, there’s a war going on and it’s a really difficult time I think for everybody worldwide, it’s not specific to Chelsea.

‘Chelsea are people and amazing people, across the club, leading in all sections. From Neil Bath, to Thomas Tuchel, to the work we’re doing here – we will be successful going forward, nothing has changed.

‘We’ve got a cup final tomorrow, everyone is looking forward to that. I can’t control what’s being said in the media, what I know is that the team is focused and ready for another cup final tomorrow.’

Hayes is one of the Chelsea Foundation trustees who Abramovich had intended to hand over the stewardship of the club to last weekend.

But that plan has now been abandoned and Hayes insisted she will not be responsible for the day-to-day running of the club.

‘Let me be clear, I’m on the Board of Trustees for the foundation. Discussing Foundation matters is one thing, I’m not on the board for the PLC. I cannot discuss matters that are beyond my remit, I’m the football manager and the trustee member for the foundation.

‘As far as I’m concerned, [there is a] trustee meeting next week that was scheduled to discuss foundation matters and that is all that I am responsible for.

‘Decisions have been taken this week for the club to be sold. I think it’s been a long week, for everybody at Chelsea, there’s no denying that. But the realities are that’s not something that I’m faced with [running the club], I’m faced with getting the team prepared with winning a game tomorrow and that’s that.’

Chelsea face Manchester City in the Continental Cup final at AFC Wimbledon’s Plough Lane on Saturday, with the match kicking off at 5.15pm.