Vera Pauw has admitted that her family questioned the wisdom of her taking on a friendly double-header in the USA - in the wake of last year’s controversial NWSL report.
The Ireland manager was one of the coaches named in the report into allegations of abuse and mistreatment of players at several clubs in the National Women’s Soccer League.
Questions have since been raised about the methods used to compile the report and Pauw is now part of a class action lawsuit defending hundreds of female coaches across the US.
But she is still likely to face plenty of questions about the report when Ireland face the reigning world champions in Austin and St Louis next month.
Asked if she hesitated in accepting the invite to face the US, she replied: “You know, not a second.
“My family, they asked me why do you do this to yourself.”
Pauw explained that she took on the games because she felt they would enhance Ireland’s ability to compete at this summer’s World Cup.
“I am there to get players to the World Cup, and have the best preparation at the World Cup, and have the best preparation for the World Cup,” she said.
“We get this now on our plate. Why would I say no? That would mean depriving them of getting the best preparation.
“I’m so proud of the preparation that we have. We’ll see with this preparation if we manage to do something significant in Australia.
“But we have to be ready to play Australia on July 20th, to play Canada on the 26th, and Nigeria on the 31st of July, and try to get out of that group.
“That is the only task I have on my plate, not to save myself or protect myself.
“I know that it can be nasty maybe, that I will regret (it) after.
“But I know that people in the USA start to think already and I get messages that your name is not in it anymore.
“They don’t talk about it anymore because they start to hesitate… what it is actually about.
“But we’ll see, I need to be strong and I need to be prepared and I will prepare myself.”
Pauw has teamed up with American lawyer Thomas Newkirk, who is bringing a lawsuit on behalf of over 200 female coaches regarding their treatment by US sporting bodies.
He raised questions at the weekend regarding the methods used to compile the December report.
Pauw ultimately wasn’t interviewed for the report because of an unwillingness by the investigators to allow her to record her responses.
“Actually the support I’ve got from Ireland is spreading,” she added. “You guys know me, that I’m not like that.
“You can say maybe I’m harsh or (I’m) taking the wrong decisions on the pitch but you know I didn’t do what they’ve written. That’s not me.”
Pauw has taken on the two US games - and a summer friendly at home to France - to expose her players to top-class opposition before they head to the World Cup.
With games against co-hosts Australia and Olympic champions Canada, as well as Nigeria, Ireland will be up against it this summer.
The Austin and St Louis friendlies could also give her a chance to blood another couple of new faces, in addition to the three newcomers that featured against China last month.
Manchester United defender Aoife Mannion, Australia-born Deborah-Anne De La Harpe and Philadelphia native Marissa Sheva made their debuts in the scoreless draw in Spain.
“There's two players that we still are monitoring,” Pauw revealed.
“It needs to be with the full determination, the full heart (that they want to play for Ireland), and they must be really making the squad stronger.”
Pauw, meanwhile, hasn’t given up hope on bringing Liverpool striker Leanne Kiernan to Australia.
Reds boss Matt Beard reported this week that the Cavan native had suffered a fresh setback in her bid to return from a serious ankle injury, and that she was 10 weeks away from playing again.
“We're not going to put huge pressure on it because this is an injury if you are a second too early, then you can ruin a career,” said Pauw.
“So we are leaving it completely up to Liverpool because her health is the more important thing for us.
“I spoke to her this morning and she's actually very energetic. She's very positive and feeling that she's getting there. Fingers crossed it is in time.”
Vera Pauw reckons Katie McCabe could be her version of Dutch legend Arjen Robben.
She watched the Ireland captain play an unfamiliar role on the right flank in last weekend’s Conti Cup final win against Chelsea.
McCabe was hugely effective for the Gunners, cutting inside onto her favoured left foot.
And Pauw said: “To be honest, that’s the first time she has played on that side.
“Our aim also in contact is to see if she develops that by playing there, because we cannot develop it, we don’t have the time for it. That could also be an option.
“We discussed that she could be like (Arjen) Robben, right? It’s not a secret. Everybody sees that. That could be the potential strength of her playing on that side.”
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