Emma Hayes criticises Jonas Eidevall's conduct in Chelsea's Women's League Cup final defeat to Arsenal at Molineux
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Updated 31/03/2024 at 23:40 GMT+1
It became very frosty between Emma Hayes and Jonas Eidevall in the aftermath of Arsenal's 1-0 victory over Chelsea in the Women's League Cup final at Molineux. Eidevall cut a bemused figure as Hayes appeared to push the Swede following the briefest of post-match handshakes. Hayes subsequently criticised Eidevall's conduct during the match, but both had different interpretations of the incident.
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Chelsea manager Emma Hayes launched a stinging attack on her Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall following the Women’s League Cup final.
Stina Blackstenius scored a dramatic extra-time winner to ensure The Gunners overcame their London rivals in the final for a second consecutive season, and Hayes appeared to angrily shove Eidevall in their post-match handshake.
When recounting the incident in an interview with BBC Sport, she said: “I think there’s a way to behave on the side of the pitch and not for the first time, I’ve been in women’s football a long time and I don’t think we should tolerate male aggression like we did today.
"Fronting up or squaring up to a player is something that’s unacceptable. I’ve never been booked in 12 years of my career but I think there’s a way to behave on the touchline. He received a yellow card but perhaps should have been more."
Hayes continued, underlining her judgement of the incident while also seeking to avoid generating headlines.
She said: "There were a couple [of instances], but the way he fronted up to Erin [Cuthbert] was unacceptable. We should not blow it up, and I'm sure when he is calm we can have a conversation. It is not the first time he has been told, but it should not be a massive story."
Eidevall looked to defuse the situation in his post-match interview and believed the incident referred to a clash with Chelsea midfielder Cuthbert regarding whether or not a multi-ball system would be implemented.
When asked for his reaction to Hayes’ comments, he said: "Okay. My word on what was happening would be that before the game we had a discussion between the clubs about whether to use one ball or multi-ball system.
"In this situation, Arsenal said multi-ball, Chelsea said one ball. The decision was to play the final on a one-ball system. The ball goes out of play, the Chelsea player wants a new ball to take a quick throw-in and I said 'we play with only one ball and you guys were the ones who decided that'.
"Obviously it now drives all kinds of emotions in there, nothing more, nothing less. I can't see that I did anything, had any form of contact with anyone - either a player or a coach. That was it."
Eidevall was presented with Hayes' quotes and responded calmly.
The Arsenal boss said that he "did not see it as a big thing".
Continuing, Eidevall explained: "I don't see me as aggressive. She is irresponsible putting that label on it. There is a way you behave in the technical area. You need to be a good winner and a good loser. I am happy with the way I conduct myself. Others need to look at themselves in the mirror."
The Gunners turn their attention back to Women's Super League matters on April 14 when they host Bristol City after the upcoming international break.
Meanwhile, Chelsea will focus on another cup competition when their players return from international duty, with an FA Cup semi-final against Manchester United to look forward to on the same day.
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