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• Hayes sees plenty of Man Utd great Ferguson in herself

  Emma Hayes said she "sees so much of herself" in legendary Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

  Hayes, who left her role at Chelsea at the end of last season, took charge of the United States women's national team in May, with her first test being the Paris Olympics. 

  She guided the USWNT to their fifth gold medal in the French capital, defeating Brazil 1-0 in the final thanks to Mallory Swanson's 57th minute goal. 

  After the triumph, Hayes revealed that Ferguson was the first person to congratulate her on the win, going on to say she sees similarities between herself and the Scot.

  “I see so much of myself in him. His was the first text I received when we won gold," Hayes said in an interview with The Telegraph.

  Hayes spent the early part of her coaching career in the United States, managing the Long Island Lady Riders, Iona Gaels and Chicago Red Stars before her move back to England in 2012.

  But her success with the USWNT in Paris is something she had dreamed about growing up in London, a triumph that still strikes an emotional chord a month later.

  “I still get a lump in my throat thinking about it,” Hayes says of winning at the Olympics.

  “I fill up every time. I have dreamt about it. I have played that out on the pitches by the flats in Camden."

  During her time with Chelsea, Hayes won 16 major honours, including the Women's Super League title for the last five consecutive seasons. 

  The 47-year-old oversaw 367 matches for the Blues, winning 261 (D42 L64), ending her 12-year stint at the club with a win percentage of 71.12%. 

  She also came close to winning the Women's Champions League in the 2020-21 season, with Chelsea well beaten in the showpiece match by Barcelona. 

  Despite her success in SW3, Hayes welcomed the change in scenery but understood her success with the Blues put her in a pressurised position.

  “I was happy for my time at Chelsea to come to an end,” Hayes said.

  “Pressure comes with the position I am in and certainly comes with the winning history I have. I accept that. 

  “But I have enjoyed feeling joyful again.

  "I didn’t realise how debilitating grief is and how much both grief and my own personal struggles of the last few years have really sapped me of everything.

  "I am so happy to turn a page. Proud of everything I have done at Chelsea but happy to be in this new space.”

• 'I deserved it' – Rodrygo frustrated by Ballon d'Or shortlist omission

  Rodrygo believes he deserved to be in the reckoning for this year's Ballon d'Or, and thinks his versatility may have worked against him.

  The Real Madrid attacker was a notable omission from the shortlist of 30 names that was announced last week.

  The 23-year-old scored 17 goals and registered nine assists in 51 appearances for Los Blancos in all competitions last season.

  However, while team-mates Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Dani Carvajal, Federico Valverde, Antonio Rudiger, new Madrid star Kylian Mbappe and even the now-retired Toni Kroos were nominated, Rodrygo was snubbed. 

  "I was upset, I think I deserved it," Rodrygo told ESPN.

  "I don't want to belittle the players who are there, I think they deserved it also.

  "But I think I had a place in the 30. It was a surprise but there is not much I can do as I'm not the one who decides these things."

   

  Rodrygo has played on the right flank and up front under Carlo Ancelotti, and he suggested that does not always get the best out of him.

  "Often, I'm just filling spaces," Rodrygo added.

  "Is someone missing there? Put Rodrygo in. Is someone missing on the right? Rodrygo. Is someone missing as number nine? Rodrygo. That's it.

  "It may get in my way a little, but I'm a team player."

  Only three players – Ilkay Gundogan (211), Valverde (211) and Iago Aspas (193) – contributed to more shots in open play in LaLiga last season than Rodrygo (171), who created 80 chances for his team-mates.

• Fixture congestion concerns Arsenal boss Eidevall

  Jonas Eidevall is unhappy with the level of care shown by UEFA and the Women's Super League when it comes to the fixture schedule.

  Arsenal beat Rosenborg 1-0 on Saturday to seal their place in the second round of qualifying for the Women's Champions League.

  They will face either Juventus, BK Hacken, Paris FC, Fiorentina or Sporting CP in a two-legged tie.

  Those matches will take place on either 18-19 September and 25-26 September, which means Arsenal will play five matches in the space of two-and-a-half weeks when factoring in the start of the WSL campaign.

  From next season, English clubs will avoid the mini-league qualifying format as UEFA introduces a new structure, and Eidevall, whose team also played on Wednesday, believes the current guise is damaging to player welfare.

  "Now we're through it, I can say it – it's lucky an English team will not have to play in these mini-tournaments again. For all the excitement, it is a relic from the past," said Eidevall.

  "This is just done from a budget perspective. That’s why they cram it in on Saturdays, to save another hotel night [by playing on a Sunday].

  "All research around the world shows there’s a massive difference between 72 hours and 96 hours recovery after a game. That part, I just can't get my head around.

  "That's just science. WSL has zero concerns about it, UEFA has zero concerns about it. It impacts injury risk. It's the same in the men's game.

  "It's just that science is one thing and broadcasting money is another thing.

  "You always need to get on with things. It's not an excuse, it's just scientific."

  Arsenal kick-off their WSL season against Manchester City on September 22.