.png)
7 months ago
59
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes conducted a bizarre press conference which included reciting a poem as she deflected questions about her altercation with Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall after the League Cup final last month.
Hayes, whose side were beaten by the Gunners, pushed Eidevall at the full-time whistle and later labelled his touchline behaviour as ‘male aggression’.
The Chelsea manager faced widespread criticism for her remarks, including Arsenal legend Ian Wright who said her words could have ‘finished’ the Gunners’ boss.
On Friday, Hayes spoke to the media for the first time since the incident and gave a series of unusual answers, but appeared to reaffirm that Eidevall had acted in an aggressive manner.
Hayes said: ‘My son said to me after the game, “when you push someone in school you’re asked to go and take time out.”
Emma Hayes recited a poem in a bizarre press conference when asked about her clash with Jonas Eidevall
Hayes and Eidevall (centre) clashed last month before the Chelsea manager accused her opposite number of 'male aggression'
The Chelsea boss refused to backtrack on her comments but said 'you can’t meet aggression with aggression'
"I've had time to look at my star." ⭐
Chelsea boss Emma Hayes recites a poem in her press conference in response to questions about the incident with Jonas Eidevall after the FA Women's League Cup final...pic.twitter.com/GeS0fmRiYD
‘I said to him: “you know what, you can’t meet aggression with aggression. All you can do is tell the teacher. All you can do is go and explain to the teacher why you think something is unfair.”
‘I said “even if the parents go to the teacher, that's all you can do. You cannot meet aggression with aggression.”
‘I thought it was a really good conversation to have with my son after the final.’
Asked whether she stood by her ‘male aggression’ comment, Hayes then recited a section of the Robert Frost’s 1943 poem Choose something like a star.
Hayes said: ‘So when at times the mob is swayed, to carry praise or blame too far, we may choose something like a star, to stay our minds on and be staid.’
Asked to explain what she meant by her comments, Hayes refused to elaborate. ‘I’ve had a fantastic break, I’ve already explained an important analogy that I’ve shared with my son and the lessons learned. My focus is on moving forward and I’ve had time to look at my star.’
Hayes was frustrated by Eidevall's alleged behaviour in the League Cup final and pushed the Arsenal boss
Ian Wright was among those who criticised Hayes, saying her words could have ‘finished’ the Gunners’ boss
She added that she did ‘not have an opinion’ on Eidevall’s comments that her words after the final had been ‘irresponsible’ and that the pair have not had a conversation since.
‘We don’t play Arsenal. We don’t have each other’s telephone numbers, we have no reason to do that.
‘But I’m sure when I become the boss of the USA, we will have conversations. But until the end of the season, my focus is on Chelsea.’
The Blues travel to Manchester United for the semi-final of the FA Cup on Sunday.
TRANSCRIPT IN FULL
Q: It’s been two weeks since the Conti Cup final and the dust has settled, have you managed to reflect on what happened after the game?
A: ‘My son said to me after the game, “when you push someone in school you’re asked to go and take time out.”
‘I said to him: “you know what, you can’t meet aggression with aggression. All you can do is tell the teacher. All you can do is go and explain to the teacher why you think something is unfair.”
‘I said “even if the parents go to the teacher, that's all you can do. You cannot meet aggression with aggression.”
Q: Is there anything about what happened afterwards, not just on the pitch but in the press conference afterwards and the comments which you made. Would you change any of that or do you stand by what you said?
A: ‘So when at times the mob is swayed, to carry praise or blame too far, we may choose something like a star, to stay our minds on and be staid.’
Q: Can you explain and elaborate the meaning behind that?
A: ‘I’ve had a fantastic break, I’ve already explained an important analogy that I’ve shared with my son and the lessons learned. My focus is on moving forward and I’ve had time to look at my star.’
Q: I get that, but Jonas spoke earlier, he described the comments made as ‘irresponsible’. Do you understand where he’s coming from?
A: ‘I don’t have an opinion on it.’
Q: Going back to the altercation after the game with Arsenal, you mentioned the chat with your son, but have you had a look at yourself, are there any emotions you could share with us?
A: ‘No, I’ve said everything I need to and have done the reflections that are important. As I said, you can’t meet aggression with aggression.’
Q: Jonas said he didn’t want the media to put too big of a spin on it, to keep it in perspective, had he pushed you in the same manner, would you have felt the same?
‘I’ve said everything I need to say on it I think we need to focus on the game at the weekend. That’s the important talking points. We need to move past that.’
Q: We certainly do and there will be more questions on that, but you can understand why there is media interest in that kind of altercation following a professional game from somebody of your calibre, when we talk about respect so much within the sport. Can you understand why we’re asking these questions?
‘Yeah, of course, that’s what you’re paid to do, I totally understand that. As I’ve said already, of course it’s not right to meet aggression with aggression. I can only control my own behaviours and I’ve reflected on that. Next time I just need to listen to my son’s advice. I need to go to the teacher if I’ve got anything to say.’
Q: Jonas said he would be willing to have a conversation with you once the dust settled, it’s been a couple of weeks now, has that happened, would you anticipate that happening?
A: ‘We don’t play Arsenal. We don’t have each other’s telephone numbers, we have no reason to do that. But I’m sure when I become the boss of the USA, we will have conversations. But until the end of the season, my focus is on Chelsea.’
Q: Can I just check when you’re talking to your son that you can’t meet aggression with aggression, you’re still talking about male aggression in that scenario?
A: ‘I’ve already answered the question.’
English (US)