The U.S women’s national team may not have much time between now and kickoff of its Olympic opener on July 25.
And yet, having just arrived to start her new role as the USWNT’s head coach, Emma Hayes is talking about building her program up step-by-step.
“It’s a process, and we’ve got to go one step at a time,” explained Hayes on Friday, in what was her first formal press conference as USWNT manager. “The camp objectives this week have been developing an introduction to the structural principles, principles of play. It’s been about building trust.”
Hayes will be on the touchline Saturday as the U.S. takes on South Korea in what will be the first of four pre-Olympic friendlies. This camp — built around two friendlies against the same opponent, with the second coming on June 4 — is the only stretch the former Chelsea boss will get with the U.S. squad before selecting her 18-player squad for the Paris games.
Nevertheless, Hayes is preaching patience.
“There’s many more complex tasks than putting a team together to go to an Olympics,” insisted Hayes. “Of course it’s challenging, but not [in a way] that I’m not used to doing. And I don’t have to do that just yet. I have time.”
Hayes said that her emphasis in this camp has been getting to know the players, letting them know what her expectations are, and adding layers to a foundation that interim coach Twila Kilgore (who has returned to a role as a USWNT assistant) began building after the World Cup.
“I’ve been trying to get to know them [in] a number of different ways,” explained Hayes, who has planned individual meetings for every player on top of the training and video sessions involved during this camp. “For me, getting to know the players — both on the pitch in the classroom — is where the overload has been…I want us to build the right things, in the right moments.”
Hayes: USWNT players ‘unbelievable sponges’
A new coach necessarily means change, but Hayes said there were certain aspects where fans shouldn’t anticipate a major shift. The ultra-competitive “American DNA,” as Hayes put it, will be nurtured. Meanwhile, the tactical approach will continue down the path started under Kilgore once U.S. Soccer hired Hayes back in November.
“Twila has, in the last six months, been put in place and building blocks,” reasoned the London native. “My job this week is to fill the detail. Is there going to be transition away from that? No, it’s being built upon that. I think there are lots of different things, but the differences are the details as opposed to major structural changes.”
The 47-year-old praised the 27-player squad for having “a better tactical understanding than I anticipated,” and said the group had impressed her with how quickly they could take on all of the new information and processes involved.
“Sponges, unbelievable sponges,” said Hayes. “No matter what we throw at them this week, they’re taking it on, they’re absorbing it. This team is desperate to improve, and it’s focused on the performances and the processes to do that.”
All in all, Hayes’ first impression of the squad she’ll be leading appears to be extremely positive.
“The group’s an absolute joy to coach, they really are,” concluded the USWNT’s new leader. “A real pleasure.”
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