Arsenal Women’s boss Jonas Eidevall slams ‘amateurish’ handling of Chelsea and Man United fixture problem
Jonas Eidevall hit out at Women’s Super League chiefs for “having no plan B” for Champions League and WSL fixture congestion.
The Arsenal chief criticised the “amateurish” scheduling that led to Chelsea having a top-flight game pencilled in two days before a match Europe.
Eidevall was reflecting on scenario that led to the Blues’ home duel with the Red Devils, initially scheduled for Sunday, being shelved with just seven days’ notice.
This was down to player welfare worries with the title-holders having a Champions League clash with Real Madrid just two days after their United game.
The calling off of the match by Women’s Professional League Limited, who took over running the WSL at the start of the season, has been criticised by fans including the Chelsea Women’s Supporters Group.
Earlier this week Man United boss Marc Skinner said the Red Devils had sold all their away tickets for the clash.
However some fans were also sympathetic to the Blues situation and the club looking out for players’ wellbeing, given the tight turnaround between the games.
Eidevall, whose Arsenal team host Everton on the WSL on Sunday, said: “The fans are the backbone to what we’re trying to build.
“Getting postponed games as supporters – this time it doesn’t concern Arsenal fans – but it does concern fans of other clubs in the league.
“It is simply unacceptable to have people’s money and time being treated in that way beforehand and it’s simply not good enough from the league.
“The three English teams (competing in the Champions League) were all scheduled to play (WSL games) on Sunday with each having a 50% chance to play their (European) game on Tuesday.
“That has been the information that’s been there for months.
“That we have a lead organisation that doesn’t act proactively on these matters – it’s damaging for the fans.
“The problem is the proactiveness about what you do and to have a plan for when different scenarios come about.
“There was a risk or chance to be playing on Tuesday, which would rule out the possibility to play your game on Sunday.
“Now, if you have that new planning scenario, of course now you need to have a plan B. What happens if you play on Tuesday?
“And if you don’t have a clear answer to that, you have a problem.”
Last Sunday in their game postponement statement, the WPLL said they wished to put “player welfare first” with the WSL leaders playing a Champions League game next Tuesday.
Last Saturday Uefa confirmed the date for the Blues’ opening group stage game (against Real Madrid) would be Tuesday 8 October.
Amid concern over players having to contest two matches in 48 hours, Chelsea and the WPLL asked Uefa if the fixture could be pushed back.
The approach to Champion’s League football and the proactiveness with the respect to the supporters has to change.
Jonas Eidevall
However the European football authority explained its calendar for the contest had been published more than a year ago.
Eidevall added: “Do the league want the English club teams to be successful at European level?
“I would hope the answer to that is ‘yes’, but the action shows differently.
“It shows that this is not one of their priorities to have the club teams to be successful.
“That is very negative for English women’s club football because it’s very important that this is the first time in the group stage that three teams reach the group stage.
“That should be something that we celebrate.
“Because of this amateurish behaviour – with not having a proactive plan and taking away a game like Chelsea’s and postponing that – it now puts us in a situation where we play Sunday.
“Then we play Wednesday away against Bayern Munich.
“They do not play (this) Sunday because they of course play (on) Saturday because they have a league organisation that sees the value of getting their top teams in better positions in the Champions League.
“Then we return to playing Saturday against Chelsea at the Emirates and we have considerably less preparations than the opponents.
“We’ll be handling this sporting disadvantage in two huge games for us.
“But we’re not a team that’s going to lie down and give up just because situations are tough.
“We’re going to dig deeper than we have ever done before and we’re going to try and fuel a lot of performances from that.
“But what needs to change?
“I think the approach to Champion’s League football, and the proactiveness with the respect to the supporters, this has to change.
“It’s not good enough to blame it on Uefa because everyone across Europe has had the same information for so long.
“The only one that hasn’t acted on that information is the WSL.”