The Football Faithful
·12 de outubro de 2024
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Yahoo sportsThe Football Faithful
·12 de outubro de 2024
Arsenal Women’s manager Jonas Eidevall was forced to field questions over his future after losing 2-1 to Chelsea at home on Saturday.
Mayra Ramirez opened the scoring for the Blues after just three minutes, before Sandy Baltimore doubled the visitor’s lead in the 16th minute. Caitlin Foord got one back for the Gunners just before halftime, but the hosts could not find an equaliser.
Arsenal have won twice in seven games in all competitions this season, and sit sixth in the WSL table on five points, putting more pressure Eidevall‘s position.
The Swede admitted in his post-match press conference that his side have started the season poorly, but insisted he was merely focused on the next game rather than his future at the club.
“It certainly doesn’t help with league-winning ambitions,” Eidevall admitted. “But it doesn’t change the perspective. You have to go game by game but there’s no point hiding away from reality and we know it’s a bad start to the season.
“I give absolutely everything today in preparation for this game. The players gave everything on the pitch. That’s the part you can control and ask for from your players. Just focusing on the next match. I just need to focus on the things I can do.”
Eidevall, who was booed by the home crowd following the final whistle, says he understands why the supporters are frustrated with the team’s form.
“I think they should see the players how incredibly hard they worked and how much effort they put it. That I hope gives supporters belief,” he said.
“I fully understand when people are disappointed at not winning football matches. I’m hurting, the players are hurting. We want to do that better, so I fully understand that in that moment. You’re allowed to show emotions when you win, you’re allowed to show emotions when you lose. I totally understand their frustration.”
He added: “Before the week, it’s an extremely tough week. Playing away in Europe, Bayern Munich and Chelsea with tight turnarounds, against teams who get much better prep times for the games. Again I have to look at how the players respond today and how they work.
“When you see how much football we’ve been playing last week, it shows the phenomenal effort the players are putting in in such an adverse scenario. It shows great character in an adverse context.”