The USWNT coach Emma Hayes could not have asked for a better start to her Olympic campaign. Scoring seven goals in two games to beat Zambia and Germany, Team USA is the only Group B side to have comfortably made it to the Olympic quarter-final so far. Anyhow, Hayes is well aware that she and the USWNT have work left to do in Paris. She knows Team USA is not here to entertain its fans just for a game or two. But to continue entertaining, they have a roadblock to clear.

Speaking after the massive win against Germany, coach Hayes hinted she is cautious in ensuring her team does not get complacent after such milestone wins. She also said it is a Herculean task for players to rejuvenate after such hard-fought games.

“We’re not here to wow everyone for a game and not do it again. We have to build the momentum. First of all, recovering from this type of game — you can imagine the adrenaline — that’s probably my biggest concern now,” said Emma Hayes, as compiled by The Athletic.

Hayes added, “You get so high, the comedown is like any hangover. We have a day and a half to recover before we go on the training pitch. We have to analyze the things that are within our control and we have to win against Australia.” 

Besides the recovery struggle and a possible bit of complacency that can take a toll on the player, the USWNT has other woes to fix. The former Chelsea boss is well aware of them as well. Let’s now explore those concerning shortcomings.

Emma Hayes to fix things in the USWNT that ‘irritate’ her

When it ended, Germany looked like a side battered and bruised. However, it was Germany that gave USWNT the beatings at first. Team USA’s defense looked so off-kilter at times that goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher had to take the game on her hands to stop Germany from dominating them.

“I thought that we were our biggest problem. There’s still things that irritate me about us, but that’s for me to fix,” said Emma Hayes.

The USWNT’s forward line, on the other hand, is performing at its peak. Their seven goals, including a double each from Mallory Swanson and Sophia Smith in two games, is a testament to that. But a back-line that relies so much on their goalie surely does not complement Team USA’s frontline and it indeed is a problem that Hayes should fix, as USWNT eyes the Olympic gold.