A very out-of-character moment from the soon-to-be USWNT manager.
Emma Hayes made headlines on Sunday following an altercation with Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall after Chelsea’s Women’s League Cup 1-0 final loss against Arsenal.
Watch: Emma Hayes pushes Arsenal manager after Women's Cup final loss
Shortly after the final whistle, Hayes approached Eidevall for the routine post-game manager handshake and pushed the Arsenal manager in clear upset, complaining over something that was unclear at the moment of the contretemps.
What is Emma Hayes doing?
— Gunners (@Gunnersc0m) March 31, 2024
Hayes was not having it.
Emma Hayes complains about Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall's 'male aggression'
In a post-match interview with BBC Sport, the Chelsea manager exclaimed Eidevall had unacceptable behavior on the sidelines, saying women’s soccer should not tolerate that type of ‘male aggression’ from the Arsenal coach.
"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” said Hayes.
"Fronting up or squaring up to a player (Cuthbert) 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” she added.
Here is the moment Eidevall confronted the officials and Cuthbert over a throw-in apparently not being taken correctly:
Emma Hayes sobre el enfrentamiento con Jonas Eidevall al terminar la final de la #ContiCup:
️ "Su comportamiento en la banda no fue aceptable. No me agrada la agresión masculina. Debería haber sido expulsado".El DT del Arsenal que se encaró con Erin Cuthbert en esta jugada: pic.twitter.com/xwfHePRwoX
— Mundo Pelota (@mundopelotanet) March 31, 2024
Eidevall was also interviewed and asked about the moment with Hayes, with the Swedish manager denying the Chelsea manager’s complaints and allegations.
"I can't see that I did anything, had any form of contact with anyone - either a player or a coach. To be honest, I can’t really take it seriously” said Eidevall.
Eidevall also explained the moment between him and Chelsea player Cuthbert derived from Chelsea contradicting their ‘agreement’ with Arsenal on using only one ball throughout the match after they tried to take a quick throw in — causing Eidevall and his staff to demand a retake.
Jonas Eidevall talks about his conflict with Emma Hayes ️#ARSCHE #CFCW #ContiCupFinal #ContiCup #AWFC #Gunners pic.twitter.com/yQxvOdlS5c
— Sport Arena (@SportArenYT) March 31, 2024
A "he said, she said" argument that will stay on the pitch.
Following the tough loss, Emma Hayes will continue to write the story of her last season with Chelsea before making the move as U.S. women’s national team manager in June, with the manager hoping to win one last trophy with The Blues before putting an end to her 12-year tenure at the club.
