Jonas Aidevall has admitted that Arsenal were forced to choose between signing World Cup winner Mariona Caldenti or extending Viviane Miedema's contract due to budget constraints.
Aidevall also said that his decision to let Miedema leave had caused a major rift in the club's relationship with the fans, and that only his resignation could dispel the “cloud” hanging over the club. The Swede resigned in mid-October and was named head coach of the San Diego Wave on Tuesday.
Idevall told a Swedish newspaper. aftonbladet: “We have a limited budget to work with and we had the opportunity to sign Mariona Caldenti or extend the contract with Viviane Miedema. Now we have to choose between the two. But… It's not a decision that you later stand up in a press conference and say, “We had to choose between two players.'' In reality, we couldn't afford both. Then I have to make a decision about what I think is best for the club. ”
Miedema, the Women's Super League's record goalscorer, was allowed to leave last summer when her contract expired. Salt rubbed the wounds of supporters when the forward, who had hinted he did not want to leave, signed for title rivals Manchester City. Caldenti joined the club from Barcelona in July.
“When we didn't renew Miedema's contract, I think our relationship with the fans at the time had a negative impact on the team,” Aidevall said. sports illustrated. “I thought [leaving] This was the simplest stopgap solution to get the team performing again. For me, it was a very difficult personal decision to avoid, but sometimes you have to do it if you think it's in the best interest of the team. I preach that to every team. I'm always preaching [that] You have to do what's best for the team.
Idevalu resigned after a series of poor performances and complaints from fans. Under caretaker manager Renee Sleggers, Arsenal have won 10 of their 11 games and drawn one.
“It feels like there's a cloud hanging over us,” Aidevall said. “If it was just hanging over me, I would have been fine. No worries. But if it became a story where it affected the team, it would have affected the team's performance in the fall. It won't be a plus.”
Mr Aidevall said he had “absolutely no relationship” with Emma Hayes since the then Chelsea manager accused him of “male aggression” during the Continental League Cup final in March last year. spoke. Ideval's new team includes players selected by Hayes to coach the U.S. women's national team.
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In San Diego, he will work alongside athletic director Camille Ashton. “I really missed that experience at Arsenal,” he said. “It’s a lonely place to be a head coach without an athletic director.”
