Chelsea manager reveals speaking to Jurgen Klopp after leaving social media platform

Hayes, who has been regularly active on social media this season, took down her Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter, accounts after her side were beaten by Liverpool.

When asked why she made the move and if the the pressures that come with her role, both in football and more widely in the women’s game, played a role, the 47-year-old said there is a level of ‘nastiness’ and ‘trolling’ creeping into the women’s game and warned it risks replicating the negative side of men’s football.

KINGSTON UPON THAMES, ENGLAND – MAY 05: Emma Hayes, Manager of Chelsea, looks on during the Barclays Women´s Super League match between Chelsea FC and Bristol City at Kingsmeadow on May 05, 2024 in Kingston upon Thames, England. (Photo by Warren Little/Getty Images)

‘I had a chat with Jurgen Klopp about it this week,’ Hayes said in response.

‘I think it’s ridiculous what everybody expects of a football manager. We’re human beings. We have lives. This isn’t about anything else than my opinion, getting you lot paid for tomorrow.

‘Because of that, maybe we’ve lost a little bit of sight around, I don’t know, the things that I think become important. Everybody’s under pressure, everybody’s got to get headlines. Everybody’s got to grab content. I think for football managers we’re in an impossible position.

‘Cause every day, we’re in a place where, no matter what we say, it will be turned into something that gets you guys paid and at the same time, puts us in a position where we’re just pieces of meat.

‘I won’t miss it, for sure. Of course I have to do press and media and there’s lots of amazing things that come with it.

‘What I’ve learned is, the volume of abuse you have to tolerate is unacceptable and the dangers of where the women’s game is going is that, and this by the way is how the players feel too, the volume of trolling and the volume of nastiness that is coming in our game.

‘That’s why I say, it’s getting like the men’s game. We might have to accept that but guess what will happen? There will be an even bigger distance between everything we do with you guys and for me, that’s the sad thing that’s leaving the game.’