Chelsea manager Emma Hayes responds to Jonas Eidevall fallout by reading Robert Frost poem

Emma Hayes read a poem out in an extraordinary Eric Cantona-style press conference dominated by talk of her push on Arsenal manager Jonas Eidevall

The 47-year-old accused Eidevall of showing “male aggression” after the altercation following a 1-0 defeat to his Arsenal side in the Conti Cup final at Molineux.

Eidevall insists he didn't act aggressively and said her post-match comments were “irresponsible” and cast a "dark shadow" over the match.

But Hayes invoked her son’s words to explain that she regretted the incident. “My son said to me after the game, ' Mummy, when you push someone in school, you’re asked to go and take time out,'" she said.

“I said to him: “you can’t meet aggression with aggression.” All you can do is tell the teacher and explain why something is unfair. You cannot meet aggression with aggression. I thought it was a good conversation with my son after the final.”

However, she said she wouldn’t reach out to Eidevall and maintained her claims he showed aggression were accurate, adding: “We don’t play Arsenal, we don’t have each other’s phone number, but I am sure when I become the boss of the USA, we will have conversations.

“I’ve had a fantastic break, explained an important analogy I shared with my son; my focus is on moving forward.”

She refused to comment further on the incident but cited a poem by Robert Frost: "So when at times the mob is swayed, To carry praise or blame too far, We may choose something like a star, To stay our minds on and be staid."

Hayes is preparing to face Manchester United at Leigh Sports Village on Sunday. She added that despite joining partial team training this week, she still doesn't know when captain Millie Bright will return.

She continued: “I’ve learned to take time in the international break to rejuvenate and get fresh. Those blocks of games take it out of you. I feel fresh, focused and ready for the last part.

“When you’re wedded to your family, I won’t start that detachment process until it is over. From my quote earlier, I have to stay as present as possible, and that takes a lot of work to not deal with all the things that go on. That’s being mindful in my practice.

“I will really tap into my breathwork and meditation, as it is easy to lose a bit of control over them. I don’t want to do that, as I am a lot happier when content and present.”