'I needed this more than I realised' - New USWNT boss Emma Hayes ready for 'new adventure' after gruelling end to time at Chelsea

Hayes went out on a high with the Blues after guiding the team to a fifth successive Women's Super League title earlier this month. It was the 16th trophy of her time in charge of the club and saw an incredible tenure close in a positive way as she prepared to leave and take charge of the USWNT.

In her press conference after the title-clinching 6-0 win over Manchester United, Hayes admitted she was exhausted from the demands of the day-to-day role at Chelsea and was ready to be reinvigorated by the challenge in the U.S., something she has reiterated since arriving in the country.

Speaking to BBC Sport, Hayes said: "It's time for this new adventure and time to build a new relationship with U.S. Soccer and with the players here. I definitely felt the last six months. I know I was probably miserable at times but when, for 12 years, you've had to, I don't know, be a spokesperson for the sport, drive so many standards internally, I think I needed this more than I realised."

Asked if it is a full circle moment to come back to the U.S., where she was sacked as manager of the Chicago Red Stars back in 2010 in an unsuccessful start to her time at the top of the women's game, Hayes hoped she was bringing "a better version" of herself back to the country. "I do feel like I'm coming back a more well rounded, more experienced version of myself," she said. "I'm looking forward to sharing that. But it's in a place that I know, it is in a culture I know. I spent 10 years of my life here. This is a second home to me, so I just can't wait. I hope to do the team proud. I hope to do the country proud."

Hayes arrives as the USWNT is gearing up for the Olympics, a tournament at which it will hope to reassert itself in the sport after a dreadful Women's World Cup campaign last summer.

After helping to plan for the Games in the background while still at Chelsea, Hayes' full focus can now be on the U.S. team and she will take charge of it for the first time on Saturday, June 1, in a friendly against South Korea.