Chelsea manager Emma Hayes has criticised the “male aggression” shown by her Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall on the touchline of Sunday’s Conti Cup final.
Stina Blackstenius scored the final’s only goal in extra time to settle the game in Arsenal’s favour and ensure Eidevall’s side retained the trophy they won last season.
Advertisement
Hayes and Eidevall appeared to share touchline disagreements during the final at Molineux, before the Chelsea manager appeared to push the Swede away from her after the match had concluded.
“There’s a way to conduct yourself on the touchline,” Hayes said of the incident after the match.
“It’s absolutely essential we role model in the right way, but I’m not up for male aggression from the touchline and fronting up to players. For me, that’s unacceptable. I was disappointed and I told Jonas that. I don’t think it’s okay to behave like that.
“He got a yellow card and probably should have been sent off. I’m all for competing to win, I’ve never been booked in 12 years. I totally accept he’s a winner but his behaviour wasn’t acceptable.”
GO DEEPER
Hayes, Eidevall and a final chapter in the WSL's most intense managerial rivalry
Hayes was then pressed on what had stemmed the disagreement, which had appeared to start from a contested throw-in.
“Yeah, there were a couple,” Hayes explained. “One with Ann (Katrin Berger) coming to get the ball. The way he fronted up to Erin (Cuthbert), I didn’t think was acceptable.”
Hayes added: “I don’t think we should blow it up. I’m sure when he’s calm we can have a conversation about it. I was clear with him, I don’t think it was acceptable. It’s not the first time he’s been told about his behaviour on the touchline.
“We don’t need to make a massive story out of it, the problem is you’re going to. I want to just say congratulations to Arsenal and I don’t want the talking point to be about that.”
Eidevall described the comments from Hayes as “very irresponsible” and rejected the Chelsea manager’s version of events.
“I think that (saying ‘male aggression’) is a very irresponsible way of labelling the behaviour that I had,” Eidevall said of the incident. “I don’t feel comfortable with that label. I don’t think it’s the truth, so I think it’s very irresponsible.
Advertisement
“People can listen to what I’m saying and see what I’m doing. It’s nothing out of order or out of the ordinary.”
Eidevall added of the throw-in incident: “I don’t see it as a big thing. I definitely don’t see me as aggressive in that situation. I think that’s very irresponsible, putting that label on it.
“The argument we had was that, before the game if both teams agree to play a multi-ball system the Conti Cup final would be played with a multi-ball system. Arsenal wanted it to played with a multi-ball system.
“Chelsea wanted it to be played with a one-ball system. Therefore the final was played with a one-ball system. That incident, the ball is kicked away and Chelsea want to play with a new ball for a quick throw-in.
“I said ‘You guys want to play with one ball, now you need to get that ball’. Of course Erin is not happy about that. I didn’t say anything more in that situation. If you decide to play with one ball then we play with one ball.
“I like to play with a multi-ball system, when the game is quick but they didn’t want to do it and you can’t do it when it suits you.
“There is definitely a way you behave in the technical area, I also think there is a way you behave after the game. Being a good winner, but you also need to be a good loser. You need to be responsible in both those situations.
“I’m actually happy with the way I conducted myself and others need to look at themselves in the mirror and see if they’re happy with themselves.”
(Marc Atkins/Getty Images)