The thirst to keep playing until it’s over boosts most champions. But for USWNT soccer star Alex Morgan, this has brought disappointment. Coach Emma Hayes surprisingly snubbed her from the team’s Paris Olympics squad. Although the soccer world expects her to rise again, the two-time World Cup winner is still figuring out how to get back into her books. Amid this, former USMNT legend Landon Donovan’s arrival can be a blessing in disguise for Morgan. The newly appointed San Diego Wave coach is already at work helping her overcome this low phase.

According to the Athletic, the former US men’s national team forward stated, “I went through the same thing that she went through this summer. I got left off a team, and I have the ability to empathize because I went through that.” The manager tries to fit into the California-born’s shoes and help her mentally. However, he found a solution from his own career to comfort Morgan.

He, further, said, “We had a long talk — ‘How do you make the last stretch of your career still positive?’ I was able to come back and win a championship that season with my team, and that was the lasting impression of that season, not getting cut,” hopeful of Alex Morgan’s return to her best.

Considered the USA’s most famous men’s player of all time, Donovan faced scrutiny in the latter part of his career. Winning 2002 World Cup’s Young Player of the Tournament, he holds the record for most assists in international soccer. In addition, he had an exceptional club career winning six MLS Cups.

Nevertheless, he was dropped for the 2014 World Cup by coach Jurgen Klinsmann, who questioned his commitment. In addition, similar to Hayes, the former coach wanted to push the youth. However, he returned and won an MLS Cup with the LA Galaxy to finish his spell with LA. Hence, a slight déjà vu may have struck him considering the position San Diego Wave is in.

The Californian team won the 2023 NWSL Shield but is struggling to enter the playoff zone this time. With nine more games to go in the NWSL league stage, the #10 ranked team needs to pull its socks up. And they will count on Morgan, who played a crucial role in the last campaign with 7 goals and 5 assists. In addition, the current league Champions also have the CONCACAF W Champions Cup at stake.

It’s been a testing 2024 for Alex Morgan as well, to say the least. Starting with an ankle injury in April, her current form without scoring a single goal this season and just registering one assist has added to the pressure. Nevertheless, as her future for the Stars and Stripes keeps lingering, Donovan will count on her experience. The Wave needs its best players to get it out of trouble as Abby Dahlkemper has also moved out. And Donovan has clear strategies for that, and that goes beyond the field.

“My No. 1 core value is compassion. I don’t view this as purely a soccer job. My job is to have a positive impact on their life every day. That doesn’t have to be on the field,” Donovan said. He thinks that because of all of his experiences, he can connect with the players at a personal level. Beyond training them as soccer players, he ultimate goal is to develop them as better human beings. Such an approach might once again bring Alex back on track. But right now, talks surrounding Ema Hayes look no signs of stopping and on every other day, new statements about the matter are thrown into the rings.

Ema Hayes’ call on Alex Morgan is still keeping things hot

When Ema Hayes left Alex Morgan off the Olympic squad, initially there were shockwaves. And Hayes was kind of Ripped apart for snubbing a talent that had become synonymous with the USWNT. She was relentlessly questioned from all quarters about the justification of the move. Hayes’ arguments were clear.

She laid a great emphasis on the form of a player while crafting the team. Especially, her eyes were fixed on club football. Understandably, Alex was a failure there in this season. Another important thing Hayes wanted to focus on was the fresh blood. Promoting the upcoming talents and getting them ready for the future is in her scheme of things. So she selected a team that had nine first-time Olympians in that. And none of the players had the experience of winning an Olympic gold medal. With all that, Hayes delivered what she was supposed to.

As the young squad secured the highest honor, suddenly, the criticism turned into notes of appreciation. Star goalie Alyssa Naeher lauded Hayes for showing the grit to craft such a team, snubbing a heavyweight. She marveled at how well the team members were meshed with each other. “I do feel like gel the group even more because we were kind of like ‘Hey, this is something special and unique that we can do together as the 22 players in this room,” Naeher had said just a week back. She was not alone in that.

ESPN analyst Sebastian Salazar commended the former Chelsea boss for being able to ‘turn the page on the generation that won 2015 the 2019 World Cup.’ He also mentioned that avoiding Morgan helped Triple Espresso, a.k.a the trio of Mallory Swanson, Sophia Smith, and Trinity Rodman, to be themselves in the attack. Meanwhile, some came out to slam Morgan as well.

Former Portland Thorns coach, Paul Riley, took a dig at Morgan while praising Hayes. “Most overrated, technically deficient player with no IQ for the game. Zero training habits. Awful teammate. Game is too smart for her now. EH best decision of Olympics leaving her home. Her presence would have been very detrimental to younger players. Selfish and self serving,” Riley lashed out just days back. Amid everything, we have yet to hear from Alex.

Understandably, she must have been through a lot. After the USA’s shocking exit from the 2023 World Cup in the round of 16, Alex had said that she was not planning to hang her boots anytime soon. But after the Olympic debacle, will Donovan be able to assist Alex Morgan in finding her place back? Let us know in the comments.