sport news 'Male aggression' complaints, attacks on player-player relationships and now a ... trends now
Emma Hayes has been the unofficial spokesperson for women’s football in this country for the last decade.
She did not ask to be put in that position, but she has carried the burden without complaint. For the most part, it has come with praise and plaudits after years of success on the pitch.
She probably knew there would come a time where she would have to weather a storm. The last month has brought scrutiny of the kind she has not faced before.
Chelsea have seen two trophies slip from their grasp in their last two games. First there was defeat in the League Cup final by Arsenal. It was a tight game where one clinical moment was the difference. Chelsea could have moved on from that disappointment quickly had it not been for what happened afterwards.
To cut what is now a very well-known story short: Hayes shoved Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall, then accused him of displaying ‘male aggression’ on the touchline. She was widely criticised, but the international break gave her two weeks to let the dust settle.
Emma Hayes has faced scrutiny after losing her cool as Chelsea coach in recent weeks
She was always going to be asked about the incident when Chelsea returned to action and, instead of apologising, which would have brought the matter to a close, she recited a Robert Frost poem.
It is not uncommon for Hayes to come up with unusual answers in press conferences. Over the years we have had cat noises, analogies about geese and references to Star Wars. The poem was different because it was used to deflect from a negative situation, which Hayes is not used to.
Had Chelsea beaten Manchester United in the semi-final of the FA Cup on Sunday, the narrative would have shifted. Their defeat has only ramped up scrutiny more.
The last two games, coupled with Hayes’ recent comments about player-to-player relationships being ‘inappropriate’, which she later retracted and apologised for, has painted a picture that she is somehow losing her way, that she is at risk of damaging her legacy.
It is easy in football to be reactive. Yes, it has been a bad month for Hayes. Yes, she has done and said things perhaps she would not have done in the past. But this is a woman who was paid £12,000 a year when she first took over at Chelsea. A woman who has taken a club from mediocrity to excellence. A bad month does not change that.
Hayes and Eidevall (centre) clashed last month before the Chelsea manager accused her opposite number of 'male aggression'
Hayes was frustrated by Eidevall's alleged behaviour in the League Cup final and pushed the Arsenal boss
The Chelsea boss refused to backtrack on her comments, instead choosing to recite a poem
Being at the top can be draining. Hayes has spoken this season about the loneliness of management and how she has, at times, felt exhausted. In response to a question about what success would look like this season, she replied: ‘Getting out alive.’
The suggestion Hayes is starting to believe her own publicity is wide of the mark. Jurgen Klopp or Pep Guardiola would not be accused of that shortfall.
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