USWNT veteran Crystal Dunn has shared her excitement about reuniting with former coach Emma Hayes.
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Dunn excited to reunite with HayesHayes to join USWNT in the summerDuo have worked together previously WHAT HAPPENED?
Dunn, who spent a season at Chelsea during the 2017-18 campaign under Emma Hayes, is excited to be reunited with her former coach. The Blues boss is set to join the USWNT as their next manager at the end of the current season. Dunn has revealed how Hayes helped her to add new dimensions to her game and spoke highly of the English coach's player management skills.
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Speaking on hosted by Sam Mewis, Dunn said, "Well, one, I feel like it’s been decades ago that I played for her, so that’s quite sad. Emma is someone who is just an exceptional human being. She cares so much about you as a person and taps into that to get the best out of you as a player, and I think that that is not something that most coaches do. I think a lot of coaches focus on winning, they want their talent that they’ve recruited to perform at the highest [level], and it’s like, yeah, we all want to do that, we all want to win, but I think she really takes that extra time to care about your interests on and off the field. I think that that really matters and goes a long way.
"She completely broke my game down and was able to add things that I didn’t see in myself at the time. Playing in the NWSL, it’s a lot of transition and space. For a lot of players, it’s about being explosive. It’s about exposing a back line, high back line, things like that. And then when I played at Chelsea I was like, ‘Where’s the back line being so high?’ like, ‘Where are they?’ They know you want to get in [behind] so they’re not [playing as high]. I think for her, she added so much to my game about just, the power of being tidy in tight spaces and being super technical, and intentional with your movement to break lines, and I think that is something that I still hold with me to this day."
She added, "I’m so excited for [Hayes]. I texted her when I heard rumblings and I was like, ‘Listen, you don’t need to respond, but basically I’m hearing some good things.’ And then when she officially got the job and it was announced, I chatted with her about how excited I am, and how fitting for this job she is. I think she’s going to do amazing things for both the young players and the more veteran players. I think she has that ability to tap into everybody, wherever they are in their career and bring out the best in them."
GettyTHE BIGGER PICTURE
In her final season in London, the 47-year-old is on course to win the WSL title for the seventh time in her illustrious career. With eight games to go in the season, Lauren James and Co. find themselves at the top of the table tied on points (34) with Manchester City. The club have also reached the knockout stages of the Women's Champions League, Women's FA Cup and the Women's League Cup.
Getty ImagesWHAT NEXT FOR EMMA HAYES?
Hayes' side will next take on Leicester City in a WSL clash on March 3 before they square off against Manchester City in the semi-final of the Women's League Cup.