Emma Hayes acknowledged that Chelsea was physically overpowered by Arsenal and that their performance in the Women’s Super League match was one of the worst she has seen in a while. The team suffered a 4-1 loss at the Emirates Stadium, with a record-breaking attendance of 59,042.
Arsenal moved level on points with Chelsea at the top of the table – second only on goal difference – after a brilliant display capped by goals from Beth Mead, Amanda Ilestedt and one in each half from Alessia Russo. Jonas Eidevall, their manager, described Arsenal’s display as their strongest of the season so far. Hayes, in contrast, was far from pleased with how her players had performed.
The Chelsea manager expressed his disappointment, stating that it was one of the worst performances he has seen from the team in a long time. He admitted that the opposing team was far superior and dominated in all aspects of the game, particularly in physical battles. He acknowledged that their overall play was lacking and it was not a reflection of their usual standard, but rather their worst display.
Hayes considered the consequences of this loss on the competition for the title. “It’s inevitable to experience defeat, you can’t go an entire season without it, especially with so many strong teams. However, what you must not do is concede three goals before half-time and then recklessly give up a fourth. That’s just throwing the game away.”
“It is common for teams to lose football matches. While we may have lost a match, it is not the end of the world. Today’s loss does not mean we have lost the title. We have simply dropped three points.”
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According to Hayes, she had not witnessed the moment when Chelsea’s Lauren James seemingly stepped on Arsenal’s Lia Wälti in frustration after play had halted. Eidevall also refrained from making any significant statements about the incident, stating “I did see it, but I don’t believe I am able to provide a comment on it.” He added, “There were a total of six yellow cards for us and only one for them, in a match where fouls were evenly distributed. That’s just how it goes.”
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This has been our most impressive showing of the season thus far. However, in the game of football, consistency is key to achieving success. It’s fantastic that we have set such a high standard for ourselves to build upon. This is always a challenge in football, but now we must focus on recovering and rejuvenating both mentally and physically. We must be prepared for our upcoming match against Tottenham in the League Cup on Wednesday.
“What stands out to me is when you observe the reaction – while we may be pleased – ultimately, our placement in the league will be the deciding factor. Today’s results do not determine any victories or losses. It is crucial for us to remain focused, continue to improve, and maintain consistency in our performances. This can greatly benefit us in the future, and it will only be determined by our upcoming performances.”
Source: theguardian.com
