USWNT head coach Emma Hayes urges her side toavoid the “slow starts” in the previous camp against a “top-echelon side” in Italy.
The U.S. Women’s National Team will prepare to face Italy twice in a four-day period in the final international games of the calendar year. Hayes used her pre match press conference to reflect on a successful year.
“When it comes to an end of year review, we tend to do it, like, pretty regularly”, the head coach explained. “Every camp we come in and we review any of the developments, whether it be from a tactical perspective, from the previous camp or whether it be celebration moments for our players”.
Hayes in particular praised the overall development of the under 23s pathway, marking it as one of the years major milestones. Players progressing through the Future’s Program are now integrated into the senior team, something she believes might not have happened without that system in place.
“The milestones are a couple of things”, Hayes continued. “I think the real development of the under 23 pathway, and it’s linked to WNT. If I think about the future’s programme last January and now I think of those number of players that are with WNT, I think without that, it might not have been the case.” Hayes also commended the scouting network in place, that has been integral to noticing the best emerging talents.
“In regards to other competitions, like we have a really comprehensive scouting, tracking and monitoring process, so, yes, those games are being monitored and broken down and usually shared in smaller format for me. So, with every competition that every potential player could be available for our staff is across that”
Hayes was also keen to note the high number of debutants this year. Giving players exposure at this level is key for their development and playing a wide range of opponents also helps with this. “I think the number of debutants in the last year giving players experiences at the highest level. And then I think just the variety of opponents we’ve played that has diversified our play and everything that comes with that”.
Hayes believes playing Italy is the ‘right test’ for the USWNT
Hayes emphasised how she relishes the opportunity for her and her players to be tested against some of the best teams in the world. Hayes stressed the need to play tough opponents to help develop and continue to improve.
“They have got fabulous results against Germany, Norway, Sweden, Japan, and I think it’s the right test”, Hayes said. “I think the key for us is, you know, we have to play our game and know that no matter what the opponent throws at us, whether they change shapes in the game, whether it’s they’re very clever in the way they defend”.
“We have to stick to our task and play our game. I think that’s the first message I’m giving to the team. The second is probably do we have to be patient? You’ve seen with their results this year. It won’t be a team will break down easily. And it’s not a team that give away a lot of chances inside the box, they defend them the box really, really well. So, we have to be clinical.”
‘I’m a female first, and a female manager second’ says Hayes
Hayes believes that being a leader evokes many skills, none more so than humility. The Halfway Line asked Hayes whilst being a person in a senior leadership position, how she finds the balance between being someone the players feel comfortable to opening up too and being their friend, but also maintaining that level of authority and control.
“Leadership but requires many different skills to be able to do that”, Hayes replied. “But as I’ve always said, I’m a female first, and I’m a female manager second. And I bring humanity and humility to leadership that I think is important, but, of course, there is the right moments to be able to, speak with players on a personal level, if they need that support. Sometimes not, sometimes it’s they want to have sit down and do tactical work, for example.”
“It takes and involves so many different things, and most importantly a support staff around a team to be able to provide different things, whether that’s be well-being support, whether that be mental performance support, whether it be medical support. So, my job is to facilitate all of those things and moved a dep lead between both of them, depending on what the needs are in that moment”.
Hayes continued on to exclaim how she believes that a man would never be asked that question, noting that she believed the question had gendered implications.
“But I think I think it’s funny you ask that question, because I honestly don’t think you would ask a male manager the same question”, Hayes fired back.
“I think asking a female that question, because is easier because perhaps we are unafraid to show some of the joy and the happiness that comes with playing at a team, but don’t mistake that for us not having an extremely competitive mindset. Everybody here wants to improve and also win.”
USWNT vs Italy kicks off at 12:00am GMT or 7:00pm in Orlando, with it being shown across multiple platforms (TNT for UK viewers).
