Since the inception of the Paris Olympics, there has only been one complaint against Emma Hayes. The English manager’s rigid approach to deploying the same starting XI and lack of substitutions throughout the tournament baffled many. However, more than that, eyebrows were raised when Rose Lavelle was unexpectedly dropped in the final lineup vs Brazil in favor of Korbin Albert. Though Hayes was slammed for this eleventh-hour call, USWNT icon Sam Mewis thinks otherwise.

Right or wrong, whatever Hayes decided to go with, it eventually worked out for the American ladies. But what many failed to digest is the fact that the former Chelsea boss has rarely changed key personnel before games. Though even Lavelle or ardent fans may not get any explanation from the manager, Mewis backs the call. Speaking on The Women’s Game MIB, she said, “It kinda seems like every single thing Emma Hayes did was exactly right.”

Be it the ‘strict no-rotation policy’ or making such last-minute changes, in the eyes of the former US international, Hayes stands correct in moving each of her chess pieces. Notably, the reason why the 47-year-old’s decision puzzled many is that Lavelle had started every match leading up to the final, playing a crucial role in the consistent lineup. However, despite her presence in all five games, the midfielder failed to score or assist in any of them.

Additionally, out of the five matches the Gotham FC star started, she only completed two, being substituted in three, including the quarterfinal against Japan, having been taken off during extra time. In contrast, Albert had replaced Lavelle twice, in games against Zambia and Australia, and even scored the decisive second goal against the Matildas.

Albert also became the youngest American woman to start an Olympic gold medal match. But what’s more important is her replacing Lavelle wasn’t that bad of a decision. Notably, the 20-year-old was instrumental in the match-winning assist to Mallory Swanson in the 57th minute. However, wasn’t the sudden move in direct contrast to what Hayes had said earlier? “Minimal changes gives you the better chance to build the creativity, so I will not change anything I’m doing,” she had said after their match against Australia.

Perhaps this is what forced Hayes to make this eleventh-hour call. Nonetheless, this isn’t the first time Mewis has stood behind the coach. Just two matches after Hayes’ induction, the USWNT legend—who retired in January this year—heavily praised the former Chelsea manager saying, “So to imagine them being coached by this perennial winner, who is really flexible tactically, who can kind of let them do their thing, I think is an exciting new chapter for the US women’s national team and I wish so badly that I could still be part of it but getting to watch from the outside is also really fun.”

Mewis is not wrong, though. Hayes’ unusual coaching philosophy, based on “love” and an uncompromising thirst for wins, makes her one of the best in the world. While she realizes how no one wants to work for an “asshole”, the fundamentally difficult calls revolving around players when needed give her an upper hand. But at the end of the day, the USWNT gets what it wants: a listening ear and a promise of worldwide domination. “We’re a different team since she’s come in. We have the players, we have the talent. We just needed someone to come in and believe in us and put us in the best position to succeed,” remarked Sophia Smith.

And that’s exactly why people believe her when she snubs a player.

Aside from Rose Lavelle, Emma Hayes lauded for Alex Morgan Paris Olympic snub

Leaving Alex Morgan out of the Paris Olympics roster was the first eyebrow-raising call that Emma Hayes made. However, ESPN analyst Sebastian Salazar saved the English manager from all the criticism and rather praised her for finally turning the page of the USWNT’s World Cup winning generation from 2015 to 2019. Salazar explained how Morgan’s exclusion has actually benefited Trinity Rodman, Mallory Swanson, and Sophia Smith.

“She[Hayes] made the big decision to leave Alex Morgan at home and I got to think that that played a big part in this front three feeling like they could be themselves. And truly take over this team and then ultimately take over this tournament,” Salazar added. Had the veteran would have made it to France then fans wouldn’t have gotten a chance to witness the birth of the “triple espresso”.

After all, the trio of Rodman, Swanson, and Smith proved lethal throughout the Olympic campaign, netting 10 of the USA’s 12 goals in six games. This certainly makes them the new attacking face of the USWNT —a scenario that couldn’t have been witnessed without Emma Hayes’ ability to take bold calls.