Emma Hayes talks controversy, managing world class maverick players and the wrong socks
Chelsea Womens boss Emma Hayes talks about the 24 hours of media controversy following relationship comments made at yesterdays press conference, managing world class maverick players and making sure not to throw the Arsenal Womens kit manager under the bus over having the wrong socks.
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
Stamford Bridge, London, UK
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00:00 Tom, you've had your hair cut.
00:03 It looks good, it does look good.
00:09 Sure, kick us off Tom.
00:16 I was invested, I wanted the performance.
00:19 I was more interested in that than I was anything else because I felt at the Emirates when we
00:25 played them we really let ourselves down with basics and I thought we started the team,
00:32 we started the game the better.
00:35 We were aggressive, particularly winning our first and second balls.
00:41 I thought, listen we haven't got a striker.
00:44 I had to play Eljo who's been sick all week up top and ask her to do a job for the team
00:51 and I thought she had a tremendous game but this isn't about Eljo, the whole team were
00:57 absolutely tremendous in everything they did.
01:00 I think about Perisay who sometimes had a tough time with Caitlin Ford, I thought she
01:04 was outstanding tonight, really, really outstanding.
01:09 Midfield pairing, yeah, better team won.
01:12 Do you know what, I just love there being a big crowd.
01:24 I really did.
01:25 I love seeing the away section, I love the whole rivalries that come with the women's
01:32 game.
01:33 It's growing, it was fun to see an Arsenal section sold out and then the rest of the
01:39 stadium, there was a noise to it, there was an atmosphere.
01:42 I think it improves the product.
01:45 We've taken a while to get to this point and my commercial manager texted me saying, I
01:51 promised we'd get to this point and I want to be able to say well done to them because
01:58 I know how hard it is, everybody's sort of being compared to Arsenal off the pitch but
02:03 the realities are to develop a cohesive plan to sell out stadiums takes actually a large
02:10 amount of time and they'd been coming in to meet with the players almost quarterly to
02:16 explain the plan and the process.
02:18 I think tonight we saw, how do I put it, the fruits of their labour and I know they're
02:26 really happy about that.
02:27 It makes the players feel better, it felt like a home game and everybody said, hey,
02:31 Chelsea don't want to play top teams in the big stadium.
02:35 We do, we just want it to be full.
02:39 I'm really proud of the whole club tonight.
02:42 She was outstanding.
02:45 Yes, of course I've spoken with her.
02:55 I think it's important and this is all I'm going to say on it.
02:59 I want to be clear to everybody in the room.
03:04 I don't want to create any more clickbait headlines for you guys, sorry.
03:08 I think sometimes that becomes the case when we have honest conversations about things.
03:14 So of course I'm disappointed about that.
03:19 Of course, you know, Jess and I have had a conversation today as I have with other players
03:24 within the team.
03:25 They know exactly who I am and they know exactly what my intentions were.
03:32 But I have to expect that I'm supposed to be the most well-trained, non-clickbait headline
03:39 coach and I let myself down yesterday.
03:43 I didn't think it was right for me to use the term inappropriate for the players.
03:49 Nonetheless, I think when we have honest conversations about these things, I don't take those things
03:54 back.
03:56 But I have zero criticism of any player in my dressing room for anything.
04:02 Their professionalism, for what they've given to the club, regardless of their status, regardless
04:08 of who they're in a relationship with.
04:10 I've been unbelievably supportive of all of the players.
04:13 I've been a champion for equality and for equity.
04:19 I think, sadly, this has become a topic that's blown up in an unnecessary way.
04:27 But I cannot control social media, nor do I wish to.
04:31 But I do want to say that I have an unbelievable dressing room and you saw tonight in the performance
04:37 from everybody, they were extremely focused on things that matter.
04:43 And as I keep saying to our players all the time, even if we have disagreements in life,
04:48 we mustn't play them out publicly.
04:50 We must have them in conversations with each other because I think it's an important thing
04:55 you should do in a workplace and everybody understands that.
04:59 And I think you saw from the performance tonight from the team that everybody is absolutely
05:05 invested in what we're doing and a tremendous performance from everyone, including Jess.
05:10 Congratulations.
05:11 Thanks.
05:12 I spoke about kick rates and inevitably a lot of people will take away from tonight
05:19 the fact that Arthur turned up to roll socks.
05:23 I was delighted.
05:24 Is it embarrassing that you're putting out a product like that, seen around the world
05:31 quality sport and a silly error like that happens?
05:34 Is it kind of undermining what you're trying to achieve with the sport?
05:38 Because who I am, I'm telling you this now, I'm not going to throw the kick man under
05:41 the bus.
05:42 He is going to be feeling terrible this evening.
05:44 It's a mistake.
05:45 It's a mistake made regardless.
05:48 He's a new guy into the position.
05:50 Please don't slaughter him.
05:52 It happened.
05:54 If we would have had blue socks and if this was an away game, we would have had white
06:01 and blue.
06:02 But because it was a home game, we knew three weeks in advance we'd be wearing white socks.
06:06 We're the home team.
06:08 But because we didn't have blue, I couldn't just say, "Don't worry about it.
06:12 We'll put blue socks on," because we didn't have them.
06:16 We are also in a day and age, God knows why, they cut everything out, holes.
06:22 There's a whole process within all of that.
06:25 Listen, I was delighted to see lying crests on Arsenal's legs in the first half.
06:30 Maybe that gave my players motivation.
06:32 I do not know.
06:33 But listen, it's an earnest mistake and something that that poor guy is going home tonight feeling
06:40 pretty crap.
06:41 As we know, and I say this considering my day, I'm certainly not going to pile in on him.
06:48 Definitely not.
06:49 Congratulations.
06:50 Before, Lauren James was great.
06:52 She's actually enjoying herself.
06:54 She's even shed a little sweat in place of the water bottle.
06:57 What do you make of her performance?
06:59 It's a playground for her out there.
07:02 We coach many, many different players.
07:08 Lauren is a maverick.
07:10 It's not always perfect.
07:12 It's not always on point.
07:14 It's not always consistent sometimes in every element of her game.
07:21 But I'll tell you this much, I understand that person.
07:25 I know that when we get to Stamford Bridge, she will 1000% perform for the team here.
07:35 You have to realise she'd been sick all week.
07:38 She came on against Everton last week.
07:40 She wasn't very well.
07:41 She was sick all through the week.
07:43 Came out for one training session.
07:44 I said, "Look, you've got to go up top.
07:46 You don't have another striker."
07:48 And she did her job out of possession.
07:52 Sarah Nusken, you could see we were in a block.
07:55 We don't need me to tell you all those things.
07:59 But I thought she played with joy.
08:01 I thought she played with freedom when the ball came to her feet.
08:04 I thought she played with…
08:07 She can carry the weight of the crowd.
08:10 She knows she's an important player to the team.
08:13 But I thought she put a shift in again out of possession.
08:16 I know for the players behind, they really appreciate that when it happens.
08:22 Yes, I'm happy for her.
08:25 When you come to Stamford Bridge, there is always that step-up in performance.
08:28 Do you wish you were here even more?
08:32 I said it before.
08:33 Everybody says, "Oh, Chelsea don't want to play big teams here."
08:36 It's not the case.
08:37 I love Kings Meadow.
08:39 But I've always wanted to pack Stamford Bridge.
08:42 For Arsenal, it felt like a home advantage for them.
08:46 Tonight, it felt like a home advantage for us.
08:49 That's why I want to give special credit to the people off the pitch
08:52 for putting people in the stands because that's our record attendance.
08:57 We talk about the successes of Arsenal.
09:02 Of course, everybody should mirror those successes.
09:05 They've been unbelievable off the pitch.
09:07 But tonight, I think it should be a celebration for all the people
09:10 off the pitch at Chelsea to fill the stands because it really,
09:13 really made a difference for the team.
09:15 Suzie next.
09:16 [Inaudible]
09:30 I have to be clear.
09:31 She doesn't want to play centre-back.
09:32 We really rate her there.
09:34 But she doesn't want to play there.
09:36 It's not to say she won't.
09:38 But Khadija Buchanan is an experienced international
09:41 and has come back, I think, playing games in the Gold Cup.
09:45 Nat's calf just hasn't quite made it.
09:49 I think Khadija came in and did a tremendous job.
09:53 When you play with Lauren James, who won the – she's the nine.
09:58 CO's job had to be to keep some sort of depth for us
10:02 and some sort of stretch.
10:04 I thought she filled in really, really well in the central areas
10:07 because Lauren was linking play.
10:10 That's not always easy because if you play Kankovic,
10:13 Kankovic's tendency is to go lower.
10:16 So if we would have had LJ lower, Kankovic lower,
10:18 I thought we wouldn't have had a threat on the back line.
10:21 I think Kankovic is playing really, really well.
10:23 But for those reasons, we played Nuskan in that position.
10:27 So at least – I mean, listen, she scored a goal off her arsehole.
10:32 She scored a goal.
10:34 She did.
10:37 Stuart said to Denise on the bench,
10:39 "We've got the rub of the green tonight in terms of our finishing."
10:42 And Denise said, "What does that mean?"
10:44 She's American.
10:45 She didn't understand the rub of the green comment.
10:49 I felt it was the same at Emirates.
10:51 They had three shots, scored three goals.
10:52 We had three shots, scored three goals.
10:54 However, we probably could have won 5-1 tonight.
10:58 But you almost have to get in – you have to take your chances
11:01 to get into the position where you've got the momentum.
11:04 And I thought Nuskan has to deserve huge credit
11:06 for being in the right place at the right time,
11:08 even though Canwood takes a shot.
11:12 It's a terrible shot.
11:14 It hits her leg and goes in.
11:15 I mean, Yo-Yo said to me it was going bottom corner,
11:18 but I wasn't so sure.
11:21 No, credit.
11:22 Nuskan is – I feel this way about all German players,
11:26 but Schocher is someone who is – she's growing in stature.
11:32 You see her importance to Germany,
11:33 but her importance to us to be able to play in all those positions.
11:36 She's zero fuss.
11:37 She'll do whatever the team needs.
11:39 Fantastic player.
11:41 Sandra?
11:42 [INAUDIBLE]
12:06 Maybe it's something I'll reflect on in years to come,
12:09 but we seem to do really well in adverse situations.
12:13 It was a tough – it's been a tough period.
12:15 It's been a tough day for us, but we're good at this.
12:19 We know how to do this.
12:21 And that's why I say to you, I can't control headlines.
12:25 I can't control those other things.
12:26 But trust me, that team is 1,000% together in what we're doing,
12:31 and that was demonstrated in the performance.
12:35 I think tonight's performance will give the team a lot of courage.
12:42 Hi Emma. I was just wondering, you mentioned it,
12:44 the first thing you mentioned was the game in December.
12:47 And I was told it was almost like the exact opposite of us.
12:52 Yeah.
12:53 And I was just wondering how much of that is kind of a mental thing
12:56 going into the game, or is it something completely different
13:00 that you can't really put your foot on?
13:02 I don't know. You look at the injuries we've got,
13:05 maybe they did underestimate us a little bit.
13:08 I do not know.
13:10 But I don't think you ever rule out a Chelsea side, ever.
13:14 We haven't won these titles without suffering or struggling.
13:19 We know how to do it really, really well.
13:21 And sometimes – yeah, I've said it before –
13:26 we've lost three number nines.
13:29 We've lost a ton of centre-backs.
13:31 I have to play with what I've got.
13:34 And when you've got an adaptable, versatile group
13:38 that take on tactical instruction and deliver it with the most intensity,
13:44 I'm hugely proud of the whole squad tonight because that weren't easy.
13:50 Trying to win at home in front of a record crowd
13:52 when you're quite depleted on the back of the day we've had.
13:56 That's what Chelsea is. Brilliant.
13:59 [INAUDIBLE]
14:24 I say this as the future USA coach. England are so lucky.
14:31 I really loved my time with Hannah.
14:34 I said to her yesterday, "I wish we had longer."
14:37 I really enjoy her company.
14:39 I really enjoy her journey and her story, her back story.
14:44 She's someone who we talked about, like, "Why Chelsea for you?"
14:51 I think she could have had the pick of many clubs,
14:54 but she trusted me.
14:56 She trusted me in the vision I had for her.
15:01 I remember watching her play one day many years ago,
15:04 maybe four years ago when she was at Birmingham,
15:07 and I said to Stuart, "Stuart, I love this girl.
15:09 She's going to be a top goalkeeper."
15:11 And he said, "She needs this. She needs that."
15:13 Classic goalkeeper statement. I said, "I love this girl.
15:15 She's going to be a top, top goalkeeper."
15:19 I genuinely believe Hannah has all the abilities
15:21 to become the best in the world in her career. I do.
15:25 And I love her spirit. I love her mentality.
15:29 I think she's had a tough time, and she came to Chelsea
15:33 and she's fought really hard, but she's blended in really well.
15:37 And she's someone, I said to her tonight,
15:40 "This is what Chelsea's about, performances like tonight."
15:44 And she said, "Emma, I've always been a Blue.
15:46 It's always the club I wanted to play for.
15:49 I have so much pride to put on this shirt."
15:52 And I think it shows in the way she plays.
15:54 Really, really brilliant.
15:56 Charlotte, please.
15:58 Ooh, I'm far.
16:03 Should put my glasses on.
16:06 You said you understand Lauren Davies.
16:10 What are the key things you need to understand about Lauren
16:13 to get the best out of her?
16:16 Do you know what? Maybe you should ask Lauren that.
16:19 But most people in our environment tend to come to me
16:23 to deal with Lauren.
16:25 Our physio, Laura Bettinelli, is another.
16:29 I do really well with Maverick players.
16:32 I think if I look at the course of my career,
16:35 maybe, I don't know why,
16:38 but I just deal really well with that type of player.
16:43 Can I relate to her as a Londoner? Maybe.
16:47 Yes, some of the things I think we get on really well.
16:50 We're really close.
16:52 I try to teach her all the time little bits
16:55 that are really, really valuable along the way.
16:57 She's not easy to manage.
16:59 Serena would say the same thing.
17:01 Serena and I work together to try to get on the same pages for LJ.
17:08 I think Serena and I's relationship has been top
17:11 in terms of managing that.
17:15 Like I said, I think you've just got to put people
17:18 in the right positions to be able to perform,
17:20 simplify their roles.
17:22 Sometimes I don't think I'm going to get it all of the time from her.
17:26 I wish I could. That's the next step.
17:28 But I think she's played so many more minutes than last year
17:31 and at a higher level.
17:33 Sometimes I think we all expect extraordinary things from her
17:38 and don't get them.
17:40 But tonight I thought she was just unplayable.
17:43 She was unbelievable.
17:45 Do you enjoy managing that?
17:48 Not when I get a phone call at 11 o'clock at night
17:53 and I've got my head on the pillow and, you know,
17:56 I've got some whatever.
17:58 She doesn't always understand her boundaries
18:03 with certain situations.
18:05 And if she wants something, she can be extremely demanding.
18:08 [BELL RINGS]
18:10 It might be her now, actually.
18:12 [LAUGHTER]
18:14 It's only Cliff.
18:16 It's the associate, Eddie.
18:18 He wants another couple of clickbaits from you.
18:20 [LAUGHTER]
18:23 Yeah, do I enjoy nurturing it?
18:26 I won't lie, I love LJ.
18:29 I love that kid.
18:31 And she can be infuriating.
18:35 She can be infuriating sometimes for her team.
18:38 But I love her.
18:41 Oh, wow. What a performance.
18:46 How have you improved that quality of performance?
18:49 I think it's important to be fair,
18:51 but she's actually quite good at being a motivator, isn't she?
18:54 It's all down to her.
18:56 She is so diligent.
18:58 Her and Jelena Kankovic, they are two top, top pros.
19:01 They come in every day.
19:02 They work at what they need to be at that level.
19:06 I don't think she's enjoyed some of the performances
19:08 she's had against top players.
19:10 She's worked at it.
19:12 She's learnt what she needs to do
19:14 isn't that quick in certain situations.
19:18 She put the same performance in against Hemp
19:20 that she did against Kate and Ford.
19:22 And I think once you see Ford leave the pitch,
19:24 you know the fullbacks had the better of the evening.
19:27 And I think we should talk up her performance
19:31 because I've seen when there's been difficult afternoons for her
19:35 and that's a real credit to her character.
19:37 And she's a real, real top professional.
19:40 One of the best I've ever coached.
19:42 And everybody in our staff team will say the same.
19:45 Ev Perisay, Jelena Kankovic,
19:47 probably the two most unbelievable professionals in our environment.
19:52 Maren?
19:57 Maybe Groin, maybe Adductor.
20:03 One to two weeks.
20:07 Maybe next week.
20:08 It might be the week after.
20:10 Same with Nat.
20:11 Karff, maybe one week, maybe two weeks.
20:14 Maren Mielder, longer.
20:16 Millie Bright, don't think we'll see Millie before international break.
20:20 Concussion, really bad concussion she took in the training environment.
20:26 She took a ball to the side of her head.
20:29 The concussion protocol has meant that she's got another extended period.
20:33 She was available to play a day before training,
20:36 maybe at the weekend.
20:37 She took a really, really bad ball to the head.
20:40 Last one from Sophie and then we'll finish with Kit.
21:06 Yeah.
21:07 I've given everything to this football club.
21:21 I've given everything to the players.
21:23 I've given everything to the league.
21:24 I've given everything to you guys.
21:26 I leave with a happy heart about what I do.
21:33 I don't need to beat Arsenal tonight to feel any better for it,
21:37 but it's really nice to do it.
21:40 I'm happy for the players because you get humbled like you do at Emirates.
21:48 The players know it.
21:49 They know it in themselves.
21:51 I can feel it for them.
21:53 The dressing room was really lively because the performance lived up
21:57 to what it is we talk about every day in our environment.
22:01 For those reasons there, that's the Chelsea way.
22:05 I mean, listen, whoever takes this job is extremely privileged.
22:23 I say this as honestly as I can, even if sometimes it's like maybe I talk
22:29 too much about things to you guys.
22:31 Maybe that's something I have to reflect on.
22:33 Maybe I'm too honest.
22:35 Maybe I should be a little bit more like that because I feel like I've had
22:38 a bit of a hammering from you guys the last 24 hours, but whatever.
22:42 What I will say is I'm leaving a really lovely dressing room,
22:48 really lovely people.
22:52 What we talk about and pride ourselves on is taking care of each other
22:56 and looking after the right things.
22:59 I had a really good team meeting this week about speak up if you have
23:03 an issue with anyone, speak up, own up, take responsibility for yourselves.
23:10 At the end of the day, we're in charge of what we do for the rest
23:13 of the season.
23:15 Listen, there's fallouts every day in every environment.
23:18 There's disagreements.
23:19 There's all of those things.
23:21 One thing I will say honestly is even though they're there,
23:25 don't ever think for one minute that it's a crisis in our environment.
23:29 I'm all about let's bring the elephants out in the room.
23:31 Let's have a conversation about it.
23:33 Let's be honest.
23:34 Let's be earnest.
23:35 Let's be adult about it.
23:36 Don't shy away from difficult conversations.
23:39 I think coming through today, I know that the dressing room continues
23:45 to live with the things that I've drilled over a long period of time.
23:49 Even though it's difficult, this is what makes us.
23:53 We've come out the other side.
23:55 Now let's go on and win something.
23:57 Final one from Kit, please.
23:59 Can I just check how close you are on not playing tailgating
24:04 when you make a call to play?
24:06 Like I said, you report on the things that I maybe give you information on.
24:16 Trust you me, probably that much, probably that close.
24:21 You say you've got socks.
24:23 I mean the socks was a brilliant story because at least for fucking 20 minutes
24:28 they could talk about them and not about me and Jess.
24:31 Thank God.
24:33 Thank you.
24:34 See you later, guys.
24:35 (laughing)