This time last year, the USWNT was in deep waters. Fresh off the round of 16 exits at the hands of Sweden in the 2023 World Cup, the Star and Stripes ft. ladies seemed lost. Though the entire team was under scrutiny, things mostly befell on then-head coach Vlatko Andonovski. However, WNT icon Carli Lloyd has offered a respite to the Macedonian tactician—similar to Emma Hayes—insisting that ‘not all the blame can go on Vlatko.’

Hayes’ recent success with the American ladies in the Paris Olympics has left many wondering whether Andonovski was ever the right choice for U.S. Soccer. But Lloyd thinks otherwise, placing more blame on the players. “Vlatko’s timing was really tough. We were in the midst of continuing an equal pay lawsuit so everybody was on edge. You kind of had more of the players spearheading a lot of decisions,” she said in the latest episode of Alexi Lalas’ State of the Union podcast.

“If you didn’t have a strong enough leader or person to come in and really set the tone, it was just going to spiral out of control and I think not all the blame can go on Vlatko,” continued the ex-forward, claiming it was rather a combination of several other things that led to US’ downfall. Mostly, a certain arrogance and overconfidence in winning two consecutive World Cups.

Call it a blessing in disguise, USWNT did find their feet back on earth. “At the end of the day, you do have to be humbled in some fashion and pushed to continue to want to be successful and dominant,” concluded Lloyd.

Ironically, it was Lloyd who last year questioned Vlatko’s team, insisting the team lacked ‘passion.‘ In response, the manager said it’s rather ‘insane‘ to even make such an assertion. Regardless, Lloyd has cut some slack for Vlatko this time, just like Hayes did too.

Before Carli Lloyd, Emma Hayes patted the back of Vlatko Andonovski

Emma Hayes credits her recent Paris Olympics gold win with USWNT to the former coach. She thanked the American-Macedonian coach for setting up the team towards victory. “We look at negative experiences or setbacks as something that shouldn’t happen. I feel the opposite. Vlatko developed a group of players that may or may not have been ready at the World Cup,” said Hayes.

But as they say, everything happens for a reason, the former Chelsea boss also believed Vlatko’s work was a “perfect storm and timing” for everyone. Notably, Andonovski chose a mixed team of young blood and a wee old pair of legs. While the likes of Trinity Rodman, Sophia Smith, and Naomi Girma lacked the experience to perform on such a grand stage (as it was their debut), veterans like Megan Rapinoe and Alex Morgan struggled to shine.

While Rapinoe hung up her boots before, eyebrows were raised when Hayes decided to snub Morgan for this year’s summer games. But even in her absence, things turned out pretty well for USWNT.