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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Nizaar Kinsella

Emma Hayes 'fully focused' on Chelsea and insists 'no split' with USA role

Emma Hayes insists her "full focus is on Chelsea" and that there is "no split" between her concentration on her current role and upcoming job with the United States.

Hayes will join the USA women's national team (USWNT) in May to become the highest-paid female coach in the world - a move partly motivated by her desire to spend more time with her son.

However, US Soccer technical director Matt Crocker explained this week that they will continue to meet Hayes throughout the season, with interim head coach Twila Kilgore adding that the Chelsea manager helped her to pick her latest training camp squad.

Asked how she would manage those demands while managing Chelsea ahead of Paris FC's visit to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, Hayes said: "No, there is no split. My full focus is here with Chelsea.

"Of course, I have had conversations with people, but I won’t start working there until May. There are full-time people in post [in the United States].

"They’ve been generous in what they have said so far, but I am here to talk about Chelsea."

The USA want Hayes to bring a winning mentality built at Chelsea to help her new team secure gold at the Paris Olympics next year.

Emma Hayes insists she is not taking her eye off the ball at Chelsea this season (Getty Images)

Crocker is "hopeful" that Hayes can meet the squad at one of two warm-up matches in December against China.

Pressed on the prospect of meeting her new employers during the upcoming international break, Hayes added: "I haven’t decided yet. I am focusing on the upcoming games and, if not, I will try to take a Zoom call."

Hayes praised her in-form winger Niamh Charles and Paris FC more generally but added that Millie Bright is only "50/50" to play at Stamford Bridge on Thursday night due to "load management."

Superstar striker Sam Kerr says Hayes will be missed as one of the first players to open up about her exit.

"I'm different to many of the other girls, like maybe a Millie Bright; I have had a lot of different coaches," she said while sitting next to her manager.

"Chelsea are really lucky to have had her for as long as we have. I am sad to see her go, though, of course." 

Chelsea play their second match in Group D after feeling poor refereeing decisions cost them in a disappointing late collapse in the 2-2 draw away at Real Madrid last week.

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