Over the past few months, Emma Hayes was laser-focused on guiding Chelsea to another Women’s Super League title, ending her time in London with a bang.
Nonetheless, she still found time to influence her next job, coordinating with interim coach Twila Kilgore to lay the groundwork for the U.S. women’s national team’s next era.
In an interview with ESPN, Hayes — who was hired in November but has only begun her role now that her term with Chelsea has concluded — offered more insight into her involvement level over the past few months.
“It’s fair to say I’ve been collaborating with Twila ever since November,” explained Hayes, who expanded on the dynamic that the USWNT has operated under in recent months.
“I’ve asked to see players that weren’t in the World Cup last year,” added the longtime Chelsea boss, name-checking Korbin Albert and Sam Coffey as examples.
“A lot of work has been going on in the background for the last six months through Twila Kilgore. Not only has she delivered success on the pitch, but more importantly she’s been drip feeding subliminal messages, building the roster around what I’ve been wanting.”
Throughout the last seven months, Kilgore — who has returned to her role as an assistant coach — had said that she was in touch with Hayes rather regularly, though the specifics of those conversations were kept under wraps.
Hayes said that she’s a big believer in learning from Kilgore and others who have been around the USWNT program, especially given a truncated period to synthesize as much information as possible. Hayes arrived in the U.S. earlier this week, and as of Thursday has barely two months before she will be coaching the team at the Olympics.
“There’s a team that’s been together for a while, and there’s a coaching staff behind the team still in place,” reasoned Hayes. “They know these players inside and out and that will accelerate my understanding of those things. So it’s not like I go in there with zero knowledge.”
Time is short for Hayes, USWNT
That acceleration will be key. Following friendlies against South Korea on June 1 and June 4, the USWNT has just two more matches (July send-off friendlies against Mexico and Costa Rica) before jetting off to Paris. Hayes will have to announce her 18-player roster by then, leaving little time for building methodically.
“You cannot win with physicality and mentality alone,” said Hayes. “I have to get that right in my selection for the Olympics, because with only 18 plus four alternates on the roster, I need players that are not just robust enough, but, you know, tactically flexible enough.”
Hayes added that plans are in place for her to speak with U.S. men’s national team head coach Gregg Berhalter, as well as her predecessors Vlatko Andonovski and Jill Ellis, all with one idea in mind: getting the USWNT back to the top.
“I’ve already spoken to the team, and that’s between us, but I will say I want to create new history,” explained Hayes. “I want new heights and a new identity… I want a lasting impact on soccer in this country.”
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