Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has criticised Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall for his “inappropriate” antics on the touchline in the Conti Cup final defeat, adding that his display of “male aggression” deserved to have resulted in a dismissal.
Arsenal striker Stina Blackstenius scored the winner in the final minutes of extra time after a hard-fought game with very few quality moments. Chelsea started out as a bigger team, but despite bringing Lauren James closer on several occasions, it was the Gunners who kept their Conti. name of the cup and ruined the Blues’ bid for an all-time quadruple in Hayes’ final season with the club.
And by the time the final whistle blew, the rivalry had reached a boiling point when Hayes and Eidevall appeared to engage in a small brawl, with Hayes pushing his counterpart and pointing an accusing finger.
Tensions had already erupted after Eidevall appeared to get into a confrontation with Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert over a near-missed throw-in in the box.
“There’s a way to behave on the bench,” Hayes said of his counterpart after the loss. “I oppose male aggression on the bench, in front of the players. This is unacceptable. It’s okay to behave like that.
“He got a yellow card and probably got sent off. It’s not the first time he’s acted this way. “
Eidevall claimed the post-match crisis stemmed from a dispute over the use of the multi-ball formula for throw-ins, saying Chelsea were opposed to it until it “suits them”. “But I think it’s all good, it’s just in the heat of the moment,” Eidevall said.
Chelsea came into Sunday’s match with their all-time quadruple still alive, but the defeat at Molineux Stadium ruined the farewell that Hayes, the veteran Blues manager, arguably deserves ahead of his move to the United States, ruined by his main rivals.
Play was halted after Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum collapsed on the pitch in stoppage time of regulation time. The Norwegian foreigner received oxygen at the scene and eventually stretched out on a stretcher after receiving further treatment. The club showed shortly afterwards that Maanum was solid and talking.
“I don’t know what happened, but the well-being of the players is the most important thing. I just know that I yelled at my doctor to help me,” Hayes said.
In the loss, Hayes lamented his team’s lack in the first half, though he added that the second half gave way to more composure. While the quadruple is now out of the question, extra overtime would arguably not help the Blues in their attempt. to compete for the league, the FA Cup and the elusive Champions League.
“We’re Chelsea, we don’t make excuses,” Hayes said when asked if the number of games played was a defeat. “Competing for everything makes you vulnerable. “
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