Frida Maanum’s family described their “nightmare” watching her collapse on television from Norway with no idea how seriously ill she was, but today revealed that she is now home and “doing well.”
The 24-year-old fell to the ground in the 95th minute and needed oxygen, but later found out that her team, Arsenal, beat Chelsea 1-0 in extra time, after speaking to her coach Jonas Eidevall after the yesterday’s game at Molineux.
Eidevall was seen waving his hands wildly and pointing at Frida after she collapsed during the Conti Cup final. Arsenal left-back Katie McCabe ran to her side and called for medics to rush onto the pitch.
From her home in Oslo, Liz-Heidi Leonhardsen, Frida’s mother, watched the episode and described her horror at seeing her daughter fall ill on live television.
She said: “It was a nightmare following everything on television without knowing what was happening.”
It is not yet known if Frida’s partner, Emma Lennartsson, a footballer based in Sweden, was in Wolverhampton for the cup final. But Frida’s mother said someone in the crowd contacted her to tell her that her daughter was stable.
Mrs Leonhardsen told Norwegian tabloid VG: “Fortunately, I received a relatively quick update from a friend of hers who was at the match: Frida is fine now and Arsenal’s medical team is following her.”
Frida Maanum is surrounded by teammates after her collapse yesterday as her coach Jonas Eidevall (below left) gestures to stop the game and for doctors to enter the field.
Frida’s mother Liz-Heidi Leonhardsen, left, described her horror at watching her daughter fall ill on live television. It is not yet known whether Frida’s partner, Emma Lennartsson, right, was in the crowd.
Maanum collapsed on the grass in the 95th minute of the League Cup final at Molineux
She was immediately treated by the club’s doctors and paramedics, who rushed to the field.
The 24-year-old was taken out on a stretcher with an oxygen mask, but did not need CPR
Eidevall and the Arsenal bench watched with apprehension as Maanum received treatment
Last night it emerged that Miss Maanum was well enough to travel back to London with the Arsenal women’s team.
Maanum appeared unconscious for several minutes as Molineux remained silent while paramedics checked her.
The midfielder did not receive cardiopulmonary resuscitation before leaving the field of play on a stretcher and with an oxygen mask.
Speaking after Arsenal’s 1-0 extra-time win over Chelsea, Eidevall said he had spoken to the Norwegian and revealed he would be joining his team-mates on the return trip to London.
Arsenal’s Frida Maanum in stable condition after collapsing during Women’s League Cup final
“I’ve been able to have a conversation with her, but not from a medical perspective,” he told talkSPORT.
‘I just checked with her, how she is and tell her we won and understand a little bit about the next steps, but I don’t have any medical updates.
“She will travel back with the team and we will give you an update afterwards.”
The reason for Maanum’s collapse is still unknown, but she was said to be responsive and talking after the match and will continue to be monitored by Arsenal’s medical team.
The Gunners beat Chelsea in extra time, with Stina Blackstenius scoring the winning goal in the 116th minute.
“This is probably one of the most difficult situations because it is very scary when Frida falls,” said Arsenal boss Eidevall.
“Right after the game, we don’t care about winning, but Frida, that’s the most important thing,” Eidevall said.
“But we couldn’t do anything to control that situation, we can concentrate on football and we wanted to make Frida a champion.”
England striker Alessia Russo, who replaced Maanum, added: “It’s devastating to see one of your teammates go down like that.” We all hope and pray that she is well.
“I think it was written in the stars that her best friend went and scored the winning goal for her.
‘Frida is a huge player and plays with every part of her body. She did that today. We just hope she is okay.”
It came after an intense match in which Chelsea boss Emma Hayes shoved Jonas Eidevall after the final whistle.
There was a confrontation when Eidevall and Chelsea midfielder Erin Cutbert clashed over a disagreement over a throw-in.
Cuthbert had attempted to use a new ball, but Eidevall had pointed out that the game was not being played on a multi-ball system, at Chelsea’s behest, which meant they had to pick up the original ball that had gone out of play.
When Eidevall went to shake Hayes’ hand at the final whistle, the Chelsea manager could be seen pointing at his counterpart before shoving him in the stomach.
Emma Hayes appears to push Jonas Eidevall after Arsenal’s Conti Cup victory over Chelsea
The Chelsea boss throws an angry finger at her rival after the match
Eidevall clashed with Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert during the match over the use of the balls.
“I think there’s a way to behave on the sideline, I really do,” Hayes said.
‘I think it’s absolutely essential that we role model in the right way. I am not willing to accept male aggression on the touchline.
“I’m really not, and to confront players, to me, that’s unacceptable.” I’m disappointed and I told Jonas so.
“I don’t think it’s right to behave like that. He got a yellow card and probably should have been sent off.
“I am all for competing to win, I have never been booked in 12 years, my time here, I fully accept that he is a winner and wants to win, but his behavior on the touchline was not acceptable.
‘The way he confronted Erin was not acceptable to me.
‘I was clear with him, I didn’t think it was acceptable. It is not the first time they have talked to him about his behavior in the band. I want to congratulate Arsenal. “They have won and I don’t want that to be talked about.”
When Eidevall was told that Hayes had used the words “male aggression” to describe his behaviour, the Arsenal manager responded by saying: “I think it’s a very irresponsible way of labeling the behavior I had.” I don’t think it’s the truth.
“I definitely don’t see myself as aggressive in that situation, I think it’s very irresponsible to put that label on it.”
‘The discussion we had was before the match: if both clubs agree to play with a multi-ball system, the Conti Cup final will be played with a multi-ball system.
“Arsenal wanted it to be played with a multi-ball system, Chelsea wanted it to be played with a single-ball system. Therefore, the final was played with a single-ball system.
“That incident that happens, the ball is kicked and Chelsea wants to get a new ball to take a quick kick and I said ‘you guys wanted to play with a ball, now we have to get that ball’.” Of course Erin isn’t happy about that, I didn’t say anything else in that situation.
‘If we decide to play with a ball, we play with a ball. I like to play with multiball, the game is fast, but they didn’t want to do it and you can’t do it when it suits you.
“I think there is definitely a way to behave in the technical area, there is also a way to behave after the match, being a good winner, but you also have to be a good loser and be responsible in both situations. I am happy with my way of acting. behave and others need to look in the mirror and see if they are happy with themselves.’