The decision by head coach Emma Hayes to leave Alex Morgan out of the United States Women’s National Team for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games generated controversy and annoyance among many fans, to such an extent that it is still a topic of conversation.
Hayes addressed the controversy in an interview on The Women’s Game podcast and justified her choice to leave Morgan out, because beyond subjective issues, she was more concerned with having players in her squad who fit her style of play, although it meant leaving out a USWNT legend, Olympic gold medallist and two-time World Cup winner.
“I think I always look through the lens of what we’re trying to achieve and always base my decisions not just on subjective feelings, but also on what will fit best with the playing model. What will help us get closer to where we were,” Hayes told The Women’s Game.
Squad limit forced Hayes to leave out Morgan
At the time, Hayes addressed her decision and in the chat she confirmed that having 18 players available for a tournament that would be played in just two weeks placed her in a dilemma and to choose to have variants and younger than Alex Morgan.
“I think having a squad of only 18 players meant that I had to think a little bit differently than I would if it was the World Cup,” Hayes said of leaving out Morgan, who played as a No. 9 and her style did not suit the variants intended by the British coach. “I had to take into account, you know, getting it right with those 18 players and having players who could, you know, adapt to multiple positions if needed. So the decision was made in that sense,” Hayes said.