Emma Hayes could read the room. The United States women’s national team head coach has been here before, both in her current job and previously in over a decade as head coach of Chelsea. She has coached prodigies and proven global stars, and she speaks frequently about the importance of her role in managing players’ mental loads.
A third successive question had rolled in about the performance of 17-year-old midfielder Lily Yohannes, whose sublime key pass created the Americans’ first goal in Thursday’s 2-0 victory over Colombia to open the 2025 campaign.
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“Listen, I think it’s really early on,” Hayes said about Yohannes after complimenting her skills. “I don’t think we should get carried away. I think she’s someone who deserves to develop without putting too much focus and attention on it.”
Yohannes’ potential talent is undeniable. Her story – a Virginia-born kid who moved to the Netherlands, turned pro at 15 and recently chose to represent the U.S. despite interest from the Dutch – is impossible to ignore.
Hayes’ warning shouldn’t be ignored, either, even if it was obligatory in her role as coach.
