Trouble brewing for Emma Hayes? England star Jess Carter likes social media post calling Chelsea boss' inter-player relationship comments 'beyond bonkers'

Blues boss Hayes, who is set to take charge of the USWNT when the 2023-24 campaign comes to a close, has added her voice to the debate regarding partnerships inside football clubs. She has said: “Player to coach relationships are inappropriate, player to player relationships are inappropriate”

Those comments have caused quite a stir, with inter-player relationships common in the women’s game. Arsenal stars Beth Mead and Vivianne Miedema fall into that category, while Chelsea superstar Sam Kerr is engaged to United States international Kristie Mews – who now plies her club trade in the WSL with West Ham.

Lionesses star Carter is coupled up with Chelsea team-mate Ann-Katrin Berger, and the 26-year-old defender would appear to have a bone to pick with her manager after liking a series of posts of social media questioning why Hayes decided to speak out on such a topic.

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Carter has liked posts suggesting that Hayes’ comments are “beyond bonkers”, “flawed” and misunderstand the “power imbalances at play”. Debate regarding inter-club relationships has resurfaced following the news that Leicester City Women are investigating manager Willie Kirk over allegations that he has been involved romantically with one of the club’s players.