“It’s really disruptive to have a coach leave the team in the middle of the season,” Megan Rapinoe remarked, questioning Washington Spirit owner Michele Kang over transferring head coach Jonatan Giraldez to her European-owned side OL Lyonnes. Despite just a year after joining the NWSL side after enjoying the highs of FC Barcelona Femini, the 33-year-old has left for a new challenge. While this sudden departure proves that Rapinoe’s point is right, Hal Hershfelt has offered the world of reassurance.

The USWNT midfielder has expressed her confidence in Giraldez’s assistant coach, Adrian Gonzales, who was announced as his successor by Michele Kang and Co. “We feel pretty confident with the transition,” Hershfelt began during her interview on the CBS Sports Golazo show.

“Considering we had Adrian at the start of probably halfway through my rookie year, he was the assistant head coach, so, I feel like it’ll be a pretty seamless transition,” added the 23-year-old, emitting all the optimism on behalf of her teammates, also hoping that they will continue to win under their ex-assistant and now-head coach.

The biggest advantage that the Spirit players have with Adrian Gonzales is that he already knows the ins and outs of the club, rather than someone new coming in and making a fresh start again. Yet, many aren’t confident in this decision, believing that what Jonatan used to do won’t be exactly used by Adrian.

Then again, Hershfelt assured that this wouldn’t be the case at all, as the former assistant coach would bring the exact same quality as the soon-to-be departing coach. “They do have the same mentality and we have a really good foundation. So I think that’ll be great for us,” concluded the San Diego, California, native.

Notably, after the news broke about his coaching transfer, Giraldez admitted in a report compiled by The Athletic that this situation of suddenly leaving is indeed “not ideal.” The Spaniard even admitted that he came up with a long-term plan of staying on the NWSL side, but quickly realized saying that “… in soccer things change so quickly.”

Meanwhile, ex-American forward Darian Jenkins and NWSL analyst Lisa Carlin earlier termed Jonatan Giraldez’s term quite successful. They praised his ability to embrace the “big change” of coaching in Europe to that in America. “He’s dealt with a lot,” said Jenkins, before Carlin added, “It’s just been a constant change on every level at Washington Spirit. It’s a lot to juggle.”

While Giráldez has received widespread praise for his work with the Washington Spirit, his sudden dismissal left many disappointed. Among them was USWNT legend Megan Rapinoe, who openly criticized Michele Kang for her approach to “cross-resourcing and referencing” between the teams she owns, let alone understanding how players reacted to it.

Regardless, that part seems to have been made quite clear by Hal Hershfelt. In fact, a few also stepped in to back this controversial coaching decision of Washington Spirit.

Washington Spirit garners confidence despite Jonatan Giraldez’s exit

“Adrian has proven that he is ready for this role,” said owner Michele Kang, thanking the assistant boss for stepping up to the occasion while expressing her confidence in the club’s decision. Well, we hope it does the job, as the Washington Spirit indeed has a standard to maintain. Currently occupying fourth place with a tally of 22 points, things look decent for them so far.

As for the alleged debate of whether it would disrupt the flow, former WSL and NWSL star Jen Beattie denied such a possibility. She rather insisted that having Adrian in the place of Jonatan is more of a “smooth transition” for players training with a coach they’re closely acquainted with.

“He is in the building already; He’s already working… it does make the situation much smoother knowing the methodology that’s going to happen and the processes you’re familiar with, you’ve seen last season, ready to just go into it next time,” remarked the former Bay FC defender.

So that’s settled then. As for the outcome, it’s something that Adrian Gonzales has to prove.