Emma Hayes will not change ‘American DNA’ of USWNT as she takes reins

Emma Hayes has no desire to change the “American DNA” of the U.S. women’s national team as she steps onto the sidelines for the first time Saturday as head coach of a team hungry for redemption.

A pre-Olympic friendly against South Korea will be American fans’ first look at the Hayes era as the team works to put their worst-ever World Cup campaign behind them last year.

“We all know the key ingredients of American DNA, and that will not change under my leadership,” said British national Hayes.

“The most important thing is their ability to understand and learn information very, very quickly – sponges, incredible sponges.

“Whatever we threw at them this week, they took it, they absorbed it. This team is desperate to improve.”

Hayes’ appointment was announced in November, but the former Chelsea manager only officially left for the US this month after claiming her seventh WSL title with the west London club.

That timeline gives her little room to familiarize herself with the squad — let alone pick an 18-player Olympic roster.

The four-time gold medalists have less than two months before they start their Olympic campaign in Paris against Zambia, but Hayes said she was going through the process step by step.

“This is an opportunity, as I’ve said before, to get to know the players, get to know their tactical understanding and see where the technique is at the highest level,” she told reporters.

“We all know they are competitive, but they have been incredibly eager to learn all week.”

During her first press conference as head coach, Hayes gave a glimpse of her famously animated personality and made it clear that she was excited to take on the challenges ahead.

“This is my passion. This is something I have loved from the very first minute I came out of my mother’s womb,” she said. “This is a privilege to be able to do work that I absolutely love.”

After facing South Korea on Saturday in Commerce City, Colorado, the US will play the Asian side again on Tuesday in St Paul, Minnesota.