Vera Pauw says that she and Katie McCabe have spoken since their row towards the end of Ireland's draw with Nigeria at the World Cup.
Pauw, whose time as Ireland manager ended this week after the FAI announced it would not be renewing her contract, says there are "no hard feelings" between her and the Ireland captain.
"After a week, we've spoken for over an hour with each other," Pauw said in an interview with RTÉ.
"We are absolutely fine with each other. I've seen a lot on Twitter regarding Katie. I hope that stops now. It’s a young woman who made a mistake. I’ve made mistakes. Everybody makes mistakes.
'I love Katie' - Vera Pauw says her relationship with captain Katie McCabe remains strong in a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with @Corktod #RTEsoccer | Read more: https://t.co/DuTlIgeFcL pic.twitter.com/vl7dvKYW2W
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 1, 2023
"She should not be held accountable for that. With any team, there are explosive players. How many times do you not see male players shouting at the male coach? I even remember (Alex) Ferguson throwing a boot at somebody.
"Katie is absolutely fine, and I love Katie. Without spark, no fire. And without fire, no performance. Katie gives us so much.
"I am OK with players reacting to me. That doesn't mean that I need to go with them because I am a coach and I have another responsibility. I have have the overview, the knowledge and experience.
"If players react, that's not an issue, that's an issue for others.
"No hard feelings to her at all."
31 July 2023; Republic of Ireland captain Katie McCabe speaks to players and staff, alongside, from left, manager Vera Pauw, Áine O'Gorman, Marissa Sheva and performance analyst Andrew Holt after the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 Group B match between Republic of Ireland and Nigeria at Brisbane Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile
In a statement released on Thursday, Pauw was highly critical of the FAI, saying that executives of the association "effectively took my seat and spoke to staff members and players regarding their roles in the team before and after the World Cup" and that her advice was "often disregarded and not respected". She also claimed that the FAI reneged on a commitment to issue her a contract offer prior to the World Cup.
Pauw also told RTÉ that some of her staff turned on her during the final weeks of her reign.
"Everybody knows that the bond between me and the players was so good and there was space for friction and there was space for discussion and there was space for joy and there was space for laughter," she said.
"Now, I just felt the players drifting away in their looks to me, and in the way they were dealing with it.
"I found out that behind my back all things were happening. I found out that behind my back even my staff was talking bad."
In a wide-ranging and exclusive interview with @Corktod, Vera Pauw explains how she felt she lost the faith of some of her back-room team #RTEsoccer | Read more: https://t.co/DuTlIge7nd pic.twitter.com/BspF0mKqpZ
— RTÉ News (@rtenews) September 1, 2023
See Also: Vera Pauw Hammers Behaviour Of FAI After She Was Let Go As Ireland Manager
