Optimistic, poised, courageous—admit it, these are some words that instantly come to mind when describing Emma Hayes. After all, her achievements and character speak for the English tactician. And no one is more deserving than her to take pride in them. But what if we told you that Hayes didn’t find it ‘ideal’ to be vulnerable about her recent Paris Olympic gold triumph with the USWNT?

“I always say this to people, when you’re in my position, you’ve always got a camera on you everywhere—catches every angle of you,” began Hayes while speaking to Rog Bennett on the Women’s Game podcast. It’s no surprise to see someone like Hayes attracting the flashes and lenses. And considering it happened after what she achieved, it doesn’t surprise us.

While she’s left with no choice but to face them, little does everyone realize it’s not something she prefers every time. “It’s not always the most comfortable feeling because being vulnerable in such a public setting isn’t the most ideal for any of us,” added the former Chelsea boss.

Shocked was one word that Hayes mostly used to describe her achievement. But technically, she didn’t have any ‘overriding emotion’, even though a sense of relief came. With happiness came the sadness of not being able to enjoy this triumph in front of her father, Sid Hayes. To make you aware, it was her father Sid who urged her daughter to coach the USWNT one day—a promise that Emma more than fulfilled.

“It was shock, it was happiness, it was sadness. My biggest fan was not there with me. I think just pride, cause I felt so embraced and welcomed as a coach,” explained the 48-year-old. Being welcomed was one thing, but Hayes and the players never imagined they would be getting such wonderful support from their ardent public. No wonder it left her speechless while giving one interview.

A ‘tough’ interview post-Olympics left Emma Hayes ‘paralyzed’!

Happiness, sadness, excitement, and every other emotion one might feel after winning—when all of these are endured at once, they leave a person in a state of stillness. Of course, Emma Hayes had always aimed to win an Olympic medal in her career. But it’s not something she would spend the rest of her life solely chasing.

Now that she has fairly done so in just 73 days as head coach of the USWNT, mixed feelings were bound to rush through her. It makes you question whether what you have achieved is even real. “It caught in many different places—dream state, present state, happiness, sadness—all of it. I was so overwhelmed with emotion that I think it paralyzed me,” she revealed.

Well, it was pretty much evident. To remind you, while giving an interview to network TV, the English tactician was so stunned that she was left speechless. “I found it really difficult to find words out of my mouth, to be honest with you. That interview was really really tough for me,” admitted Emma.

Honestly, even if we relate to Hayes, only the USWNT coach truly knows the emotional rollercoaster she had to go through. No wonder she felt uncomfortable in being herself while expressing her sentiments after securing what she calls the greatest achievement of her career!