“She Really Struggled”- Emma Hayes Justifies Korbin Albert’s Selection & Explains Alex Morgan’s Exclusion From USWNT’s Paris Olympics Squad

It’s the beginning of a new era and the USWNT is in pursuit of a revival. The Stars and Stripes had a pretty disappointing stint in the last few major international tournaments and the 2024 Olympics in Paris is expected to be a checkpoint for them. But Emma Hayes decided to be fearless in her first test as the USWNT manager, opting to keep midfielder Korbin Albert in the squad despite her controversy earlier this year.

Parallelly, she even snubbed recent captain Alex Morgan. However, after the surprising moves, Hayes has now opened up about the mindset behind her tactics.

Speaking about Albert, Hayes revealed that her skills and performance were the reason for her inclusion, and had already faced enough criticism. She stated, “I think she’s had a really, really tough time. She’s really struggled. And I think some of that has shown in her performances. She’s a young person having to deal with a lot of criticism — rightfully so. She can hear the noise in the stadium and that’s affected her,” citing that it was time to move on.

Hayes also revealed about her regular conversations with the 20-year-old. These revolved around the importance of harmony in the team, and how some opinions could impact it claimed the former Chelsea coach. Albert faced criticism from fans, the USWNT Player’s Association, and prominent players like Megan Rapinoe, Lindsay Horan, and Alex Morgan for sharing anti-LGBTQ views on social media.

Meanwhile, Korbin is expected to be used in multiple midfield roles and is also claimed to have the fuel to keep up with the quick schedule of the tournament. Although she did not register any goals or assists in her 11 games, her energy and passing ability on the pitch make her a must-have. However, it was the opposite for Morgan.

Emma Hayes reveals the reason for Alex Morgan’s exclusion

While it was a straightforward decision to pick Albert, Emma Hayes confessed it was hard to leave Alex Morgan out. But the number of players and the need for fresh legs led Hayes to drop her.

Hayes said, “It was a tough decision of course – especially considering Alex’s history and record with this team, but I felt I wanted to go in another direction and selected other players,” hinting at the need for next-generational players to take the team forward.

This is the first time Morgan will be missing the Olympics for the first time since 2008 Beijing Games. She won the gold in 2012 and bronze in the 2020 edition and may not be playing the next World Cup either. But despite some surprising moves, USWNT will aim for gold after 12 years, and with an innovative coach like Hayes, it doesn’t look daunting.