Chelsea manager Emma Hayes says she “let herself down” when describing player relationships in the women’s game as “inappropriate”.
When asked about player-manager relationships during Thursday’s pre-match press conference, Hayes also addressed the challenges of relationships between players. She believes the comments have subsequently been blown out of proportion.
Relationships between teammates are common in the women’s game; Chelsea signed Pernille Harder from Wolfsburg in 2020 in a move that saw her join up with her long-term partner Magdalena Eriksson, while Chelsea defender Jess Carter is in a relationship with goalkeeper Ann-Katrin Berger.
Hayes said she had spoken to Carter and the Chelsea team following her comments.
“Of course I’ve spoken with her. This is all I’m going to say on it. I want to be clear to everybody in the room. I don’t want to create any more clickbait headlines. I think sometimes that becomes the case when we have honest conversations about things. Of course I’m disappointed about that.
“Of course Jess and I have had a conversation today, as I have with other players within the team.”
She continued: “They know exactly who I am and they know exactly what my intentions were. But I’m supposed to be the most well-trained,…
