Fans accused Lauren James of unfollowing England teammates Ella Toone and Mary Earps on Instagram after Chelsea lost their Women’s FA Cup semi-final to Manchester United. James got into a tussle with United’s Millie Turner during the match, resulting in Turner posting about the incident on social media. Some of Turner’s teammates liked or shared her post, which led to fans noticing that James had unfollowed Turner, Toone, and Earps on Instagram. Chelsea manager Emma Hayes said she hadn’t spoken to James about the incident and brushed off questions about social media activity.
Turner reposted the image of her tussle with James on her Instagram story, adding captions indicating her excitement for the upcoming final against Chelsea. Meanwhile, Emma Hayes expressed her disappointment with VAR after Chelsea’s loss in the FA Cup semi-final. Mary Earps, another teammate of James and Toone, praised Manchester United for their victory, calling the season “mentally brutal.” Despite the social media drama surrounding James, Hayes remained focused on the team’s upcoming matches in the Women’s Super League and Champions League.
Questions arose about whether James should have been punished for putting Turner in a headlock during the FA Cup semi-final. Chelsea boss Emma Hayes did not address the incident directly but chose to focus on the team’s performance in the upcoming matches. Turner’s repost of the image on social media garnered attention, leading to speculation about the relationships among the players. Hayes, who is set to leave Chelsea at the end of the season, emphasized the importance of focusing on the team’s goals and not getting distracted by external noise.
Emma Hayes also mentioned that she wanted her players to enjoy themselves and play without feeling pressured to prove anything to anyone. She highlighted the hard work the team puts in every day and encouraged them to showcase their skills on the field. Despite allegations of social media activity impacting team dynamics, Hayes assured that the players are committed to performing well in their upcoming games. As Chelsea prepares to face Aston Villa and Barcelona in the Women’s Super League and Champions League, respectively, the focus remains on the team’s success and unity.
