‘His behaviour wasn’t acceptable’ - Chelsea boss Emma Hayes slams Arsenal coach Jonas Eidevall for ‘male aggression’ after pair clash at full time of Conti Cup final

A last-gasp goal from Stina Blackstenius handed Arsenal victory in the Continental Cup on Sunday and ensured Hayes will not win the quadruple in her final season with Chelsea. There were fireworks after the game too, as Hayes and Eidevall clashed on the pitch and the Chelsea manager criticised her counterpart for his behaviour on the touchline.

Hayes told reporters after the match: "I think there’s a way to conduct yourself on the touchline, I really do. I think it’s absolutely essential that we role model in the right way. I’m not down for male aggression on the touch line, I’m really not, and fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed and I told Jonas that. I don’t think it’s okay to behave like that. He got a yellow card and he should have probably been sent off. I’m all for competing to win, I’ve never been booked in 12 years, my time here, I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behaviour on the touchline wasn’t acceptable.

The Chelsea boss also offered some more detail on her complaints and said she planned to talk to Eidevall after tempers had calmed.

She added: "Yeah so I think it was a couple, there was one with Ann [Katrin-Berger] trying to get the ball. The way he fronted up to Erin I didn’t think was acceptable. I’m sure when he’s calm we can have a conversation about it. I was clear with him, I did not think acceptable. It’s not the first time he’s been told about his behaviour on the touchline. I don’t think we need to make a massive story out of it, the problem is you’re going to. I want to say congratulations to Arsenal. They’ve won and I don’t want the talking point to be about that."

Hayes and Eidevall have enjoyed a longstanding rivalry ever since the Swede was appointed Arsenal boss in 2021. The Chelsea manager has won five trophies during that time and will surely not enjoy seeing Eidevall and his team get their hands on the Conti Cup this time around.

Yet Chelsea can still end the season on a high. The Blues remain in contention to win the Women's Super League, Champions League and FA Cup in what is Hayes's final season before she departs to take over the USWNT.

The two teams will return to action after the international break. Chelsea play Manchester United in the semi-finals of the FA Cup, while Arsenal play Bristol in the Women's Super League.