'She's getting cheekier' - Emma Hayes reveals hilarious Olympic roster jibe from Catarina Macario as Chelsea boss explains why USWNT star is not yet starting games

Macario has only recently returned to action, making her Chelsea debut in the process, following 20 months on the sidelines with a serious ACL injury. She already has two goals for the Blues to her name through three substitute appearances and is pushing for a first start.

The 24-year-old playmaker is eager to see regular game time ahead of a bid for gold medal glory in Paris later this year, with Hayes set to have taken charge of the USWNT by the time that tournament rolls around. She is being given reminders by Macario of what needs to happen in order for their partnership to continue at international level.

Hayes has said of easing Macario back into domestic plans: “I have a really experienced staff team that have worked together to understand everything from Cat’s medical history, to time off feet from her last game, and the management of her return, albeit with some bumps in the road, in a carefully managed way.”

She added on Olympic roster decisions: “Cat is one of the most popular people in our dressing room, she’s so likeable, she’s so charming and charismatic. She’s actually getting a little cheekier, I’ve noticed in the last few days, she had to fill out this form to be included in an Olympic roster and she said: ‘Now all you have to do is pick me!’ But Cat is someone who is not 100% yet, but she’s not far away from starting a game.”

The United States will be SheBelieves Cup action in April, and have friendlies against South Korea to come in June, before attention then turns to the Olympic Games in France – with Brazil-born Macario hoping to add to a haul of 17 caps for her adopted country.