Jonas Eidevall: Arsenal boss says Emma Hayes' 'aggression' comment was 'irresponsible'
Arsenal boss Jonas Eidevall has said it was "irresponsible" of Emma Hayes to refer to "male aggression" when asked about a flare-up between the two managers during the Gunners victory over Chelsea in the Women's League Cup final.
On a dramatic afternoon at Molineux in front of 21,462 spectators - a new Women's League Cup record attendance - Stina Blackstenius grabbed a 116th-minute winner as Arsenal beat Chelsea in the Continental Cup final.
Blackstenius made space in the Blues box to seael a tense encounter with a low effort that Chelsea keeper Hannah Hampton could not stop
However, at the final whistle in extra time, Hayes appeared to push away Eidevall.
have a day off emma hayes pic.twitter.com/PpQzcsrz07
— lucy (@nayasrivera2) March 31, 2024
When asked about the incident, Hayes said: "I am not down for male aggression on the touchline. I told him this."
Eidevall said he did not feel "comfortable with the label".
The serious remarks came after Eidevall had a brief set-to with Chelsea midfielder Erin Cuthbert during the match, which he said arose because the teams had disagreed about whether there should be a multi-ball system when the ball went out.
"Chelsea wanted a one-ball system," said the Arsenal boss. "So we played with one ball, then in the final minutes they want another ball to play quickly. I said this and Erin was not happy in that situation."
Eidevall was booked for the incident but Hayes insisted the Gunners boss should have been sent off.
When Eidevall approached Hayes at the end, the two initially shook hands - prior to the Chelsea boss pushing him away.
"There is a way to conduct yourself on the touchline," Hayes said. "He got a yellow card and should have been sent off.
"I get he is a winner, but his behaviour is unacceptable. There were a couple [of instances], but the way he fronted up to Erin 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."
When asked about Hayes' comments, Eidevall said he "did not see it as a big thing".
"I don't see me as aggressive. She is irresponsible putting that label on it," he added.
"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."
Arsenal celebrate silverware on an emotional afternoon
To add to the emotion at Molineux, Arsenal midfielder Frida Maanum was carried from the field on a stretcher at the end of normal time after collapsing.
Play was stopped for seven minutes when the Norway midfielder went down off the ball in the Gunners' 1-0 extra-time win against Chelsea.
Maanum received medical treatment before being taken off on a stretcher.
Arsenal said she was in a "stable condition" while Eidevall spoke with the 24-year-old after the match.
The Gunners boss said it was "very scary" when Maanum collapsed, adding: "Immediately after the game, we don't care about winning, we care about Frida - that is most important.
"But there was nothing we could do to control that situation, we can concentrate on football, and we wanted to make Frida a champion."
Arsenal end Chelsea quadruple hopes
Chelsea fell at the first hurdle of the quadruple, with their hopes ending in bitterness as Hayes and Eidevall clashed at the final whistle.