'My full focus is on Chelsea' - Emma Hayes insists she will not split her time between Blues and USWNT job despite 'collaborating' on squad selection

Interim USWNT head coach Twila Kilgore revealed that she worked "collaboratively" with Hayes, who will take over the team next summer, to come up with the squad for upcoming matches against China in December, with star Alex Morgan left out. The coach says she has not yet decided if she will make the trip to meet up with the team and staff ahead of those games.

Asked if she is planning on doing both jobs simultaneously, Hayes said: "No, there is no split. My time is here with Chelsea. Since I’ve been appointed as the [USWNT] coach I’ve had conversations with people to establish that there are full time people in post in the U.S. and I will be there in May. When the opportunity arises, I will have conversations with Twila. But my full focus is on Chelsea.”

Kilgore admitted that she has been in conversation with the Chelsea women's team manager while selecting the latest team. She said this week: "We’re sharing information, knowledge sharing. There’s a provisional roster that comes out first, which I prepared. I was able to share my ideas with Emma. Emma’s able to share her ideas with me and we picked this roster collaboratively, and we will do so moving forward. I will have opportunities to go to London and spend time with Emma in person and hopefully vice-versa."

It was confirmed this month that the 47-year-old will leave Chelsea at the end of the season to become the USWNT's head coach. She will take charge in time to lead the team to the Olympic Games in Paris next year and is expected to oversee four friendlies before the competition begins.

Hayes could get her first look at the USWNT if she travels to the United States before their friendlies against China in December. If she cannot make the trip, the coach says she will try to make a video call with the team.