Category: Women’s Super League

USWNT star Macario gets assist in first Chelsea start

It’s been 686 days, but Macario is back starting games again

Making a big step after her injury nightmare, Catarina Macario started a match for the first time in 686 days.

The U.S. women’s national team star was on the pitch from kickoff as Chelsea hosted Aston Villa in the Women’s Super League on Wednesday, making her first start for the Blues since joining the club in June 2023.

The 24-year-old would end up logging 70 minutes in a 3-0 win, with the Blues climbing back above Manchester City at the top of the WSL standings on goal difference.

Macario had not started a game anywhere since tearing her ACL in her final appearance with Lyon, all the way back on June 1, 2022.

Since then, Macario has missed a World Cup for the USWNT, and had totaled just 169 minutes of playing time for Chelsea and the U.S. before being named to the starting 11 by Emma Hayes for Villa’s visit.

Villa goalkeeper Anna Leat was sent off after just four minutes for denial of an obvious goalscoring opportunity after making a save well outside her 18-yard box, helping Macario and the Blues ease into the game.

Aggie Beever-Jones’ 18th-minute volley opened the scoring, and Macario followed that strike up with a clever 38th-minute assist. The USWNT attacker’s near-post heel flick completely caught the visitors’ defense off-guard, setting Japan forward Maika Hamano up for a tap-in.

Despite her lack of playing time, this marked the third assist for Macario since her return, to go with two goals (including one in her first appearance for the club).

[lawrence-related id=58284,56777,51319]

Incoming USWNT coach Hayes has sideline dust-up with Arsenal boss Eidevall

The Chelsea manager accused the Arsenal boss of “male aggression on the touchline”

Things got a little heated between Chelsea coach Emma Hayes and her Arsenal counterpart Jonas Eidevall in Sunday’s Women’s League Cup final.

The pair were at odds over an issue that managers typically don’t get too concerned over: the number of balls available to use during the game.

In short, Eidevall thought only one ball would be used, and was enraged when Chelsea took a quick throw-in with a new ball from the dugout. The manager got near Chelsea’s Erin Cuthbert on the touchline in a moment that clearly did not sit well with Hayes.

After the match, which Arsenal won 1-0 on an extra-time winner from Stina Blackstenius, Hayes gave Eidevall a minor but unmistakable bump on the pitch when the pair shook hands.

Afterward, the incoming U.S. women’s national team head coach vented her frustration at what she called Eidevall’s “male aggression.”

“I’m not down for male aggression on the touchline, I’m really not,” Hayes said. “And fronting up to players, for me, that’s unacceptable. I’m disappointed and I told Jonas that. I don’t think it’s OK to behave like that.

“He got a yellow card, and he should have probably been sent off. I’m all for competing to win. I’ve never been booked in 12 years in my time here. I totally accept he’s a winner and wants to win but his behavior on the touchline wasn’t acceptable.”

Eidevall hit back by saying that the “male aggression” remark used by Hayes was “irresponsible.”

“I think that’s a very irresponsible way of labelling the behavior that I have, I don’t feel comfortable with that label, I don’t think it’s the truth to do that, so I think it’s very irresponsible to do that,” he said.

“The ball gets kicked away and Chelsea want to take a new ball to throw a quick throw-in and I said, ‘You guys wanted to play with one ball, now we need to get that ball.’

“Of course, Erin doesn’t get happy over that, I didn’t say anything more in that situation. If we decide to play with one ball we play with one ball. I like to play with multi-ball, the game is quick, but they didn’t want to do it and you can’t do it when it suits you.”

[lawrence-related id=56119,54120,53786]

USWNT’s Macario says return from injury ‘feels like a dream, like a miracle’

Macario admitted she had doubts about her future, but is now looking to enjoy her soccer

Catarina Macario may still be in the early stages of her career at the highest level, but after 20 months on the sideline, she’s gained the kind of perspective associated with a veteran.

The U.S. women’s national team forward was sidelined for over 20 months after suffering a torn ACL in June 2022, with multiple setbacks costing her a World Cup and a full European season.

Even after a summer move to Chelsea, Macario only made her Blues debut on March 3, scoring in a 4-0 win over Leicester.

Speaking to The Guardian, Macario emphasized that such a difficult battle to return to the field redefined so much about how she thinks about her career.

“Before the injury I’d be really nervous before big games: ‘I don’t want to mess up, I just want to be able to perform well for my team,” said Macario. “Sometimes I almost got too much in my own head to the point that I wouldn’t be able to perform, really.

“But I feel like now, since the injury, I’m just grateful to be on the pitch again and just to have legs.”

Macario is still very much in the early stages of her return, and is not expected to start Sunday’s Continental Cup final against Arsenal. Thus far, Chelsea boss Emma Hayes (who will soon enough be evaluating the 24-year-old for USWNT duty) has been peppering Macario into matches, calling on her as a substitute in each of the club’s last five games.

The USWNT star has responded quickly, posting a goal and two assists in just 105 minutes as Chelsea advanced to the semifinals of the UEFA Women’s Champions League while also inching ahead of Manchester City atop the Women’s Super League standings on goal difference.

“My first game back I was able to score and you could see the joy in everyone,” recalled Macario. “That meant so much. Even though we had trained together for a while, it felt like such a big celebration. It really was such a genuine moment and so emotional too that I could literally not imagine being part of another team.”

Macario hopes for ‘fun’ Continental Cup final

Despite the big stage that is a final between two of the giants of European women’s soccer, Macario maintains that for her to succeed, she has to focus on having a good time first and foremost.

“I know that it’s a big game, but I personally don’t really think about it that way any more,” said Macario. “You’re supposed to do the work for [a final] before you get to this point, so let’s just have some fun.”

Macario indicated that she has a massive amount of gratitude for the Chelsea medical team for seeing her through what was a murky, challenging return to full fitness.

“Our head of performance one day told me, ‘I don’t think I’ve ever spent so much time focused on one player, but we’re doing this just to try to get it right for you so that you can be healthy in the long term, and be able to contribute for us,’ explained Macario.

“That’s something that I really appreciate, and I honestly could never repay them. I did at times think, ‘Will I be able to play at that level again?’ There were definitely a lot of doubts. They just reassured me a lot.

“A lot of times I didn’t believe them. That’s why now everything just feels like a dream, like a miracle.”

[lawrence-related id=51319,37439,56431]

Hayes walks back ‘clickbait’ comments on teammates dating

The coach backtracked on comments saying that players dating was “inappropriate”

Chelsea head coach Emma Hayes has admitted she made a mistake when she said that teammates dating was “inappropriate.”

The incoming U.S. women’s national team coach was asked Thursday about Leicester City Women manager Willie Kirk, who is currently suspended amid an investigation into a reported relationship with one of his players.

Hayes responded by saying that not only is coaches dating players wrong, but also teammates dating one another.

“We have to have safeguarding, make sure that’s it’s accessible for each and every club to protect players,” Hayes said. “Player-coach relationships, they’re inappropriate, player-to-player relationships are inappropriate.”

Expanding on her reasoning, Hayes added: “One player’s in the team, one’s not in the team, one might be in the last year of their contract, one might not be. We all know, those of us that have been in the women’s game for a long period of time, those things have been happening in dressing rooms. Longer term, it would be ideal … where you don’t have to deal with that.”

After her side’s 3-1 win over Arsenal in the WSL on Friday, Hayes admitted she had made a mistake with her comments.

“I want to be clear to everybody in the room, I don’t want to create any more clickbait headlines for you guys. I think sometimes that becomes the case when we have honest conversations about things,” Hayes said at a press conference.

Chelsea defender Jess Carter is currently in a relationship with her teammate Ann-Katrin Berger, and liked a post on X saying that the comments from Hayes were “beyond bonkers.”

Amid a potentially awkward situation in her locker room, Hayes said she had spoken with Carter in the aftermath of her comments.

“Of course, I’m disappointed about that, of course Jess and I have had a conversation today as I have with other players in the team,” Hayes said.

“They know exactly who I am and what my intentions were. But I have to expect that — I’m supposed to be the most well-trained, non-clickbait coach and I let myself down yesterday. I didn’t think it was right for me to use the term ‘inappropriate’ for the players.

“I don’t take those things back, but I have zero criticism for any player in my dressing room for anything — their professionalism regardless of their status, regardless of who they are in a relationship. I’ve been unbelievably supportive of all of the players, I’ve been a champion for equality and equity.”

[lawrence-related id=53786,51412,46121]

USWNT forward Fishel scores on dream Chelsea debut

The 22-year-old looks right at home in London after her offseason move from Tigres

Mia Fishel has had quite the week.

Exactly seven days after earning her first U.S. women’s national team cap, Fishel scored on her Chelsea debut as her new side defeated Tottenham 2-1 in Sunday’s Women’s Super League opener.

With the game scoreless in the 28th minute, Niamh Charles beat her marker on the left flank before whipping in a cross that Fishel did well to head away from her body and into the far corner.

Lauren James would go on to score early in the second half, with Spurs pulling a goal back in the 76th minute through Martha Thomas.

Fishel, who completed a move to Chelsea from Tigres in the offseason, said her goal was a “dream come true,” adding that playing in England was a step up from her time in Liga MX Femenil.

“I’m playing for my dream club with these players. I’ve been here a month and I’m excited,” Fishel told Sky Sports.

“I had no doubts about starting and that’s kudos to Emma [Hayes, Chelsea head coach] and the team for making me feel welcome.

“The intensity is different from the Mexican league. We don’t get a lot of time on the field. Take more than two touches here and you’re going to get smashed, that’s the major difference.”

Hayes added that she was happy with the partnership that was developing between Fishel and England star James.

“A brilliant debut from Mia and the connection with Lauren was there to see throughout,” Hayes said.

“She was a bit out of the game for the first 15-20 minutes but when she did feel her way into it, her connection with Lauren was excellent.”

Watch Fishel’s goal on Chelsea debut

[lawrence-related id=29129,29111,24692]

Arsenal launches custom women’s kit from Stella McCartney collaboration

It’s the first time that Arsenal’s women’s team will wear a separate kit to the men

Arsenal and Adidas have announced the launch of a custom away kit for the women’s team from famed designer Stella McCartney.

The kit will debut on October 6 for Arsenal’s Women’s Super League clash against Manchester United, while the Arsenal men’s team will wear it during warm-ups for its Premier League match against Manchester City two days later.

This season will be the first time that Arsenal’s women’s team will wear a separate kit to the men.

“I’m so proud to continue the story with Arsenal by creating this bespoke capsule for the women’s team,” McCartney said in a release from Adidas.

“I love that the away jersey taps into the exciting intersection of fashion and football through its elevated geometric print and captivating hues – with technical performance materials at the core. It’s important that both players and fans alike can playfully express themselves as they move on and off the pitch, and we hope this bold, new collection can play a part in that.”

The gender-neutral kit is part of an eight-piece collection that also includes shorts, a jacket, pants a t-shirt and more.

“For me, football has always been about having fun and getting creative – it’s why I got into it as a young girl and it’s what inspires me today,” forward Alessia Russo added. “I love that this collection represents that, and I can’t wait to wear the shirt with pride on match day.”

[lawrence-related id=28878,27386,26732]

No Premier League success, no party for Chelsea

Chelsea, for once, made the right call

Chelsea’s sad season, at least on the men’s side, has left everyone too bummed out to party.

On the women’s side, there is plenty to celebrate: Emma Hayes’ side has already won the FA Cup, and is on the brink of a fourth straight Women’s Super League championship. Chelsea has one of the best women’s teams on the planet, with Sam Kerr scoring for fun, Lauren James having a revelatory season, and so on. They will have a party, because everyone is having a blast.

Chelsea’s men’s team? Not so much!

The Evening Standard reports that Frank Lampard’s bunch, who are on course for a bottom-half finish, will not have an end-of-season awards event before heading off for the summer.

It’s not the first time the Blues have finished the year without some sort of soirée. Last year, the international sanctions against former owner Roman Abramovich meant no party, while the pandemic offered a pretty straightforward reason to skip the event in 2020 and 2021.

Players will receive their end-of-season awards before Chelsea’s Premier League finale against Newcastle, and will be spared the awkwardness of a luncheon where everyone desperately just wants to go home.

No party a good call for Chelsea

The 2022-23 season has been an ongoing calamity at Stamford Bridge. Todd Boehly, who for a spell was the club’s interim sporting director despite having no experience in that role in the sport, spent over €600 million on new players. Chelsea added so many new faces that the locker room literally couldn’t fit them all.

Spending has generally gone hand-in-hand with success at the highest levels of the game over the last couple of decades, but Chelsea has been an utter mess on the field. Thomas Tuchel was barely tolerated before being fired seven games into the campaign, while Graham Potter was given just a few months before also being shown the door.

The Blues will finish the season with a club-worst points total in the Premier League, and their players have to endure Boehly coming to the locker room to tell them they’ve been embarrassing.

In those circumstances, who would want a party? Scrapping the festivities might be the best decision Chelsea has made all year.

[lawrence-related id=18945,18702,18358]