Coach Emma Hayes has aced at looking reality in the eye while doing her job without worrying too much. After a decorated position at Chelsea, the London-born manager knew her next job was to deal with a USWNT in transition after the 2023 World Cup disaster. During a recent conversation, Hayes detailed how she thrived amid unreal expectations by maintaining sheer calm, which again is a skill she mastered like no other.

Emma Hayes famously thinks her Olympic gold with the USWNT is her greatest honor yet. Recalling the Summer Games in Paris, she said she gave herself a reality check on how to deal with sky-high expectations.

“I know that it’s almost impossible to satisfy that… So I sort of have an approach that instead of feeling daunted or looking in a fearing way, I just acknowledge what the expectation is and don’t worry about it too much,” said Hayes in a recent episode of The Sports Agents podcast.

Thereafter, the British coach revealed that she has always been keen on treading lightly and letting success come naturally. “I think probably my entire career I’ve been working towards that moment. Not just from a coaching perspective but learning how to deal with all the threats that go around this and learning how to block out the noise, just get on with the job,” she added.

Meanwhile, in another conversation, the former Chelsea boss had detailed how significant the Olympics was to America while speaking of the qualms of the USWNT job.

Emma Hayes has been enjoying the USWNT job, but it has more pressure than her Chelsea stint

Speaking of the Olympics, Emma Hayes said she had an ‘absolute blast.’ She also earlier said that her one month in the US Olympic camp was more enjoyable than her last few years in Chelsea. But she understands that women’s soccer fans in the US won’t settle for anything less than an Olympic gold.

“I was reminded of how important the US team is to the American public. And for them, the Olympics is so significant. Anything other than the gold medal in the eyes of the US public is seen as a failure,” coach Hayes told BBC.

Anyhow, the 47-year-old pulled off an exemplary task in outliving the chaos of being at the USWNT’s helm. Like she said, she gently nodded to all expectations and rose above them and beyond. Besides, Hayes has aced in shaping a US team in transition. The British coach saw the birth of a dynamic forward trio.

The USWNT’s defense reclaimed its dominance, and the likes of Lindsey Horan rekindled their leadership acumen.