As the final whistle blew at the end of Jonas Eidevall’s first Women’s Super League (WSL) game in September 2021, he fell to his knees, both arms outstretched. His side had beaten Chelsea 3-2 in the season opener at the Emirates and the new Arsenal manager was not shy about showing his delight.
That moment marked the start of an intense managerial rivalry; one that has eclipsed anything the WSL had previously seen.
It certainly stuck in the minds of the Chelsea team. When they won the league eight months later, Erin Cuthbert and Millie Bright did the same pose with their winners’ medals. Cuthbert posted the picture on Instagram with the caption: “If you know, you know.”
On Sunday, the teams face each other in the Continental Cup final, the last meeting between the sides before Chelsea manager Emma Hayes departs to take charge of the United States Women’s National Team this summer.
It brings to an end a rivalry that has built during the three years since that first meeting between Eidevall and Hayes.
Hayes has long been the most outspoken manager in the WSL. Her willingness to comment on various topics in combination with a penchant for esoteric references or off-piste digressions make her press conferences intriguing to view.
But from the very beginning of his time in…
