Emma Hayes might have set a new benchmark in the international managerial scene. By leading the USWNT to gold in the Paris Olympics within months of her debut as a national team coach, it seems the former Chelsea boss is a natural. Carli Lloyd, however, claims Hayes’ recent accomplishment is merely a ‘psychological instilling’ and doesn’t make her the Pep Guardiola of the women’s soccer world.

In the latest episode of the Alexi Lalas-hosted State of the Union podcast, Lloyd discussed Hayes’ impact on the American team. She praised the English tactician for not emphasizing expectations of winning gold or the group’s ability to achieve it. “She took that pressure off the group and allowed [them] to really find out more about themselves by digging deep and she believed in them,” said the USWNT icon.  

Yet, that still doesn’t make Hayes a high-profile tactician, as it was more about positivity that the 47-year-old brought. “The belief and kind of what she came in and did, of course, she structurally and tactically changed some things. But let’s be honest, in 10 games you say [yourself] a magician, you’re not Pep Guardiola, changing years worth of tactical play. This was more of a mindset, more of a psychological instilling that she brought to this team is what I took from it,” added Lloyd.

t seems that, to Lloyd, Hayes has more to prove, as the legendary forward is hesitant to make an overall judgment based solely on a gold medal. The two-time World Cup winner does credit the former Blues manager for subtly changing the USWNT’s psyche, which had suffered a loss of confidence following the 2023 World Cup upset. However, Hayes isn’t the only one facing reality from a player!

Emma Hayes reminded things may go south with USWNT despite Paris Olympic triumph

With the recent gold triumph in France, Emma Hayes has raised the expectations that the soccer world will now have for this USWNT side. She is expected to maintain this winning momentum as long as the four-time world champions wish to keep her in the job. This is exactly what scares the 47-year-old a bit: “One of my players said to me yesterday, ‘It’s all downhill from here.’ [I] hope not but I get the point.”

Having won the Summer Games in such a short span of management, Hayes now shoulders the responsibility of delivering positive results. Failure to do so may see her face the fans’ backlash. Likewise, doubts arise about whether her new era of the USWNT can survive in further major tournaments, like the World Cup, where each side presents itself in the best way and with all the finest achievers possible.

Regardless, let’s hope it doesn’t go even the slightest bit wrong for the US Women’s National Team. After all, it’s their hard work and perseverance that have brought them back to this point. The rest is on Emma Hayes, who will need a lot to echo similar success to Pep Guardiola.