It started with a knee and ended with a push. The rivalry between Emma Hayes and Jonas Eidevall has ended and we are all left wanting more.
There will be those who consider what happened after the League Cup final on Sunday unacceptable.
Arsenal manager Eidevall argues with Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert and Hayes responded by pushing him after the final whistle. The kind of thing that people say they don’t want to see, when in reality it’s the kind of thing that everyone wants to see. Passion, fireworks and drama. After all, managers are not robots.
As the dust settles on this international break, which comes at a good time for Hayes, she will realize she was wrong. She was wrong to pressure Eidevall and wrong to label her touchline behavior as “male aggression.”
There’s no doubt that Eidevall can be a nuisance. A “pain in the butt” is how Hayes described it before their league fixture three weeks ago. He can be animated, over-the-top, and, if you’re his opponent, incredibly irritating.
Emma Hayes shoved Jonas Eidevall after Arsenal’s Conti Cup victory over Chelsea on Sunday
Hayes was wrong to pressure Eidevall and label his touchline behavior “male aggression.”
Chelsea manager criticized Eidevall after clash with Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert over match balls
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Sunday’s argument arose because Cuthbert went for the ball closest to sight, rather than the one that had gone out of play, when taking a throw-in in the final minute.
Eidevall ran and shouted, arguing that the original ball had to be used. He explained after the match that Chelsea had rejected the option of having a multi-ball system and noted that they could not have it both ways. Cuthbert walked angrily towards Eidevall, who stood his ground. Hayes called it “coping” and that’s why, he says, he lost his cool.
As the full-time whistle blew, crowning Arsenal League Cup champions for the second consecutive season, Eidevall approached Hayes for a handshake. The Chelsea manager pointed at him, made a passing comment and then shoved him.
When asked afterward about the incident, Hayes said she was “not willing to accept male aggression” and called Eidevall’s behavior on the touchline “unacceptable.” She responded by calling Hayes “irresponsible” and a sore loser.
The problem for Hayes is that it’s hard to call someone aggressive when you’ve pushed them around in front of television cameras. If the tables were turned, Eidevall would have come under intense scrutiny for laying hands on an opponent. Hayes has gotten his way.
“I don’t think we need to make a massive story out of this, the problem is that you’re going to do it,” Hayes said. “I don’t want that to be talked about.”
One suspects that if Hayes hadn’t wanted his altercation with Eidevall to be the topic of conversation, then he wouldn’t have talked about it.
The narrative, of course, should have been about how Arsenal’s players overcame the shock of seeing their teammate Frida Maanum collapse on the pitch to win a trophy. Those nine minutes were difficult for both groups of players and for everyone watching inside Molineux. The fact that they were able to continue with such professionalism made the full-time antics of both managers seem trivial.
Hayes got his way, as Eidevall would have faced greater scrutiny if he had acted the same way.
Eidevall has stepped into the shoes of another coach, but the Arsenal coach triumphed on Sunday
The three-year rivalry will be missed as Hayes leaves to take over as US boss.
Eidevall was booked for his confrontation with Cuthbert and Hayes argued that this was not the first time he had been warned about his touchline behaviour. In November, Manchester City manager Gareth Taylor accused Eidevall of “bullying” the fourth official during their WSL match. Eidevall was not reprimanded and described Taylor’s comments as “borderline slander.”
The rivalry between Hayes and Eidevall began when the latter took a knee in celebration after Arsenal beat Chelsea 3-2 in his first match in charge. When Hayes’ team won the FA Cup that same season, she made purring noises in reference to Eidevall’s fear of black cats. They have constantly bitten each other but, although it ended in a confrontation, there is a certain respect between both coaches.
Eidevall bothers people, that’s clear. Hayes’ departure to the United States at the end of the season raises the question of who will fill the void. The incoming Blues coach, perhaps, is whoever he is. But the box office rivalry of the last three years will take a beating.
Le Tissier is caught between two positions
Maya Le Tissier must ask herself what she has to do to earn the trust of England boss Sarina Wiegman.
The Manchester United centre-back was one of the best defenders in the Women’s Super League last season, but surprisingly missed out on selection for the World Cup squad.
She has been in and around the set-up ever since but was ruled out once again for the upcoming Euro 2025 qualifiers.
The problem seems to be that Wiegman sees Le Tissier as a right-back, when she plays as a centre-back for United. That’s not Le Tissier’s fault and when she played as a full-back for England she always did a steady job.
Le Tissier may be baffled that Wiegman apparently prefers Esme Morgan, who is not a regular starter for Manchester City, over her. But all he can do is keep working hard and try to prove the England manager wrong.
Maya Le Tissier left out of England squad despite impressive form at club level
Toone’s double brightens Manchester United’s mood
Manchester United’s problems this season have been well documented, but it was nice to see Ella Toone provide some light relief to the club last weekend.
The striker, who is the club’s all-time goalscorer and appearance record holder, scored her 50th and 51st goals in United colors in a 4-1 win over Everton.
Toone has competition for the No. 10 spot in the England squad, with the likes of Grace Clinton and Jess Park in fine form.
Her performance over the weekend was a timely reminder of the offensive assets she can bring to the Lionesses team.
Ella Toone scored twice as Manchester United cruised to a 4-1 win over Everton in the WSL.