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Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Hayes to swap Chelsea for USWNT this year</li><li>Manager told players she was leaving after Villa win</li><li>Reveals response in dressing room</li></ul>

'It was silent' - Emma Hayes reveals response from Chelsea players when she announced she would be leaving to become USWNT boss

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It was in the aftermath of Chelsea's 6-0 win over Aston Villa back in November that the club announced that Hayes would depart at the end of the season to pursue a new opportunity, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-chelsea-emma-hayes-perfect-coach-womens-world-cup-disaster/bltd88189d6519f5f79" target="_blank">with that revealed a few days later to be the USWNT head coach role</a>. The Blues' long-serving manager has now revealed that she told her players in the dressing room after that victory that she would be leaving and has described what the response was like.

WHAT HAPPENED?

"It was a silent dressing room. It was very reflective," Hayes told <a href="https://www.telegraph.co.uk/football/2024/02/15/emma-hayes-interview-son-green-light-america-move-chelsea/" target="_blank">the Telegraph</a>. "There was shock. But for me, too, it wasn’t just them. The players were happy for me, because they knew how much [my son] Harry meant, and how much I’ve sacrificed [time with him for the team]. And at the same time it was sad, because change was coming and that familiarity was about to end."But that feeling passed. The team have adapted, and they’re all excited for their future with a new coach. It’s important to keep mentioning that. They’ve had one voice for 11 years, not all of them, but it’s time, too, for them to have a different type of leader and a different type of learning, and vice-versa for me."

WHAT HAYES SAID

Since the news of Hayes departure was announced, Chelsea have continued to be a winning machine and look set to help her end her time with the club on a high. The Blues are top of the Women's Super League table, into the semi-finals of the Continental Cup and have reached the last eight in both the FA Cup and the Champions League."The players deserve all the credit, because they’re continuing to perform at such a high level, no matter the changes," Hayes added. "It’s a testament to their character and abilities. They know me and I know them and we both know we will fight to the end, no matter where I’ll be next year. I’ll give everything until the end and I’m massively optimistic for the remainder of the season."

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Hayes has revealed that her son, Harry, played a vital role in helping her decide to take the USWNT job when it came up as a possibility, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-emma-hayes-decision-chelsea/blt30aa7afabcc607a8" target="_blank">with her describing his response as "the endorsement I needed".</a>

DID YOU KNOW?

<a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/uswnt-tv-schedule-fixtures-results/blt44b8d434311886eb" target="_blank">While the USWNT's focus is on the inaugural CONCACAF W Gold Cup that will kick off later this month</a>, Hayes and Chelsea will be looking to end their final season together on a high by winning as many as those four trophies as possible.

WHAT NEXT FOR HAYES AND THE USWNT?

'It was silent' - Emma Hayes reveals response from Chelsea players when she announced she would be leaving to become USWNT boss | Goal.com English Saudi Arabia

Emma Hayes has revealed how her Chelsea squad responded when she announced that she would be leaving for the United States women&apos;s national team.