Kenny Shiels says women's teams are more 'EMOTIONAL' than men's teams

Northern Ireland manager Kenny Shiels controversially claimed women’s football teams concede more goals in quick succession because they are more ‘emotional’ than men.

Shiels’ team were beaten 5-0 by England in their 2023 World Cup qualifier on Tuesday, with four of the goals coming in the second half.

The Lionesses scored their second in the 52nd minute before further goals in the 60th, 70th and 79th minute.

The result came after Northern Ireland’s 3-1 defeat by Austria on Friday, where the three goals came within the space of nine minutes.

And Shiels put the quick succession of goals in both defeats down to women being ‘more emotional’.

‘In the women’s game, I’ve noticed, as I’m sure you’re aware, if you go through the patterns,’ Shields said.

‘When a team concedes a goal they concede a second one in a very very short period of time, right through the whole spectrum of the women’s game, because girls and women are more emotional than men.

‘So, they take a goal going in not very well.

‘When we went 1-0 down we tried to slow it down to give them time to get that emotional imbalance out of their heads. That's an issue we have. Not just in Northern Ireland but all of the countries in the world.’ Shiels then remarked: ‘I shouldn’t have told you that.’

Shiels has been manager of Northern Ireland since 2019, leading the country to qualification for this summer’s Euros - their first major tournament.

The comments came on what had been a memorable night for the country, with a record crowd of 15,348 watching on at Windsor Park.

But it was England who were victorious on the pitch, with a brace from Lauren Hemp and Georgia Stanway and a goal from Ella Toone making it a comfortable.

Hemp opened the scoring in the 25th minute as