Former Arsenal women’s team manager Jonas Eidevall has revealed that he was forced to choose between signing World Cup-winning forward Mariona Caldentey and extending their leading attacker Vivianne Miedema‘s contract due to budget constraints.
Miedema is the WSL’s record goalscorer but was still allowed to leave last summer. She wasn’t offered a new deal even if the Dutch star wanted to stay at the N5. To make matters worse, the striker joined archrivals Manchester City, and it invited more frustration from the fans.
Eidevall speaks on Miedema exit and Caldentey signing
Eidevall quit the club in October and has returned back to coaching duties for American soccer team San Diego Wave this week. While talking about the matter with Swedish outlet Aftonbladet, he said:
“You have a limited budget that you have to deal with, and we had the opportunity to sign Mariona Caldentey or extend Vivianne Miedema’s contract. Then you have to choose either/or.”
“But it’s not a decision that you later stand at a press conference and talk about and say: We had to choose between two players.’ The reality is we couldn’t afford both. Then I have to make a decision about what I think is best for the club.”
Did it eventually lead to his exit?
Eidevall went on to say that this decision proved to be costly as it led to a severe breakdown in his relationship with the fans. The ‘cloud hanging’ over them could only be swept away by his resignation.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated, he said:
“I think that when we didn’t renew Miedema’s contract my relationship at the time with the fans was hurting the team. I feel that there was a cloud hanging over us. If it had just been hanging over me, then I would have been fine.”
“No worries. But if it becomes a narrative that affects the team, then the team’s performance in the autumn will not benefit. I thought [leaving] was the easiest quick fix for the team to be able to perform again.”
The 41-year-old manager soon resigned after a string of poor performances. Renée Slegers has taken his role on an interim basis, and the team has performed well so far. The Gunners have won 10 out of 11 games played under her watchful eyes.
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Caldentey has to prove her worth for Arsenal and makes sure they don’t miss their top scorer. She has scored six goals in 19 games in all competitions for the English goliaths. Meanwhile, Miedema has scored one goal in three appearances for Man City.
