If playing against the odds was an art, then we’d like to call Emma Hayes the Picasso of it. 10 games in hand, no international experience whatsoever, and a team filled with 2023 FIFA World Cup despair—all such challenges at the helm yet, she never wavered in her belief in herself or the team’s ability to turn things around for the USWNT, ultimately winning Olympic gold at the Paris Games. Forget the fans—or yourself—if you were a doubter too; even a ‘skeptical‘ Ali Krieger was proved wrong.

The USWNT icon was too one of the cynic to think if Hayes would be able to turn the tides in the American ladies’ favor with just months of work. Then again, it’s the uniqueness of the former Chelsea boss that made things possible. “I think leadership is everything,” began Krieger on the latest podcast episode of ESPN’s Futbol W.

The former defender highlighted how many doubted the WNT would ever manage to handle the transition from Vlatko Andonovski to a new coach like Hayes. Not to forget that despite announcing the English tactician as Vlatko’s successor around November 2023, she couldn’t come until the end of the WSL season, making things more questionable.

In fact, despite 4-0 and 3-0 friendly wins over South Korea and a narrow win over Mexico, a stalemate against Costa Rica that was no less than a ‘super passive’ and less exciting game before the Summer Games created more doubt. No wonder it was the performance in France that made Krieger start believing in Project Hayes. “I didn’t have a good feeling going into the tournament, a confidence that we usually have in previous years.”

“So I was skeptical. But then, once they got to the tournament, Emma had them in the bubble and really dug in. Everybody chose to buy into her plan, her principle, to whatever tactics she had implemented and really applied that,” added the former Gotham FC star.

Krieger highlighted how Hayes managed to build relationships with and among the team, proving favorable. That only helped her to understand each player better, as everyone had a different personality. “You have to treat the players differently. Having a good understanding of how to get the best out of players is what the difference is,” emphasized Ali.

To be precise, it took a mere 81 days for Hayes to take the USMNT from zero to hero. So it’s only natural for Krieger to insist that the 48-year-old is indeed the best decision that the US Soccer made with her hiring.

Ali Krieger terms Emma Hayes the ‘right choice’ for the USWNT

The former NWSL defender also praised the former WSL manager’s communication and leadership abilities, which helped establish a standard among the players and made them realize that understanding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations is key.

“Having that freedom to just bring your own individual magic, that’s what we saw and she is one of the best to be able to do that. To manage all of those big personalities that you had within the squad, to really get everybody on board, that is very impressive to me. She definitely was the right choice,” admitted Krieger.

Magician, luck, or just an expert in her craft? Whatever you may want to call it but the true fact is that Emma Hayes has truly done something for the USWNT that is beyond imagination.