Just one day after NWSL announced that Orlando Pride head coach Amanda Cromwell and assistant Sam Greene would both be placed on temporary administrative leave amid an investigation into alleged retaliation, interim coach Seb Hines and team captain Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir said the team is narrowing their focus for the time being to simply winning their next game.
With Cromwell and Greene suspended, the Pride coaching staff consists of Hines, USWNT legend Michelle Akers, and goalkeeper coach Aline Villares Reis. Cromwell is the second NWSL head coach to be suspended this year, following James Clarkson with the Houston Dash. Clarkson’s situation remains unresolved at this point.
Speaking to reporters ahead of a road game against the Chicago Red Stars this Sunday, both Hines and Jónsdóttir offered little comment on the internal situation involving Cromwell and Greene beyond saying that they were informed on Tuesday.
“I know that I have to come here and do a job, and prepare the team for Sunday,” said Hines. “We want to go out there and compete against Chicago, and that’s my job at hand right now, is to make sure the players are prepared for that.”
Hines didn’t specify how long he expects to be the interim coach, saying “I take it every day as it comes” before breaking down Orlando’s schedule through Sunday’s game. “I focused on the field. I can control what’s happening on the field at this present moment,” he added.
Jónsdóttir struck a similar chord, saying she had no particular reaction to the news and that her thoughts at the moment are on improving on the 5-0 loss to the Houston Dash this past Friday. “You’re never going to be happy after losing 5-0,” said Jónsdóttir. “I think the group is just hungry, wanting to do better.”
For Jónsdóttir, the message for the rest of the team was simple. “We want to win games. And that’s what we’re going to focus on: come to training, take it day by day, and try to get results in the games that we have,” said the Iceland international. “I think the team knows what they need to do.”
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