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Emotional Emma Hayes reveals secret to USA women's Olympic gold medal triumph

Emma Hayes left her role as head coach of Chelsea Women to take over the United States women's national team and restore the former world champions to their perch

[Emma Hayes celebrates Mallory Swanson's goal]

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Emma Hayes celebrates Mallory Swanson's goal against Brazil(Image: Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

The USWNT are champions again and according to Emma Hayes, its all down to love.

One year on from the programs humiliating round of 16 exit at the Womens World Cup and fears that the days of dominance were now beyond American exceptionalism, the USWNT were back in familiar territory on Saturday in the French capital. Victory secured. Trophy in hand. Jubilant cheers mixing in with the American anthem pouring in from all directions. This is the USWNTs theatre, and finally they are centre stage again.

The temptation is to draw a direct line from the hiring of the former Chelsea boss to the moment Mallory Swanson broke a fierce deadlock against Brazil at the Parc de Princes, clinching the USWNTs record-extending fifth Olympic gold medal, and their first since 2012.

Its difficult not to indulge this straightforward arithmetic.

Hayes was hired with precisely this type of restoration remit in mind: restore the USWNT to the top, at whatever cost. And while the pressure to achieve this in her first attempt ratcheted up to fever pitch as the cameras zoomed in and the anticipation swirled, few would have truly criticised the 46-year-old for failing here, so soon and so early into this relationship.

Instead, instant impact. A squad that once looked laboured and stale now fizzes with youthful vim and vigour in a rejuvenated front line of Swanson, Trinity Rodman and Sophia Smith the front line known as Triple Espresso , while the precocious defensive nous of 24-year-old Naomi Girma has become a point from which Hayes can mould her team.

But while credit was being thrust in Hayes direction for the swift turnaround in USWNT fortunes, Hayes instead credited something more intangible for the restoration projects initial success.

"Just love," a visibly emotional Hayes said through tears. "I come from a place of wanting players to enjoy themselves. I've been at a club at 12 years and I've had huge success but I was desperate to do it for this country. It's not every day you win a gold medal."

She added: I love America. It made me. I always say that.

Hayes coaching career is rooted within the United States borders, with the English manager having coached at Iona College in New York and NWSL side Chicago Red Stars before taking over Chelsea.

[Emma Hayes was emotional after the victory]

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Emma Hayes was emotional after the victory(Image: Photo by JONATHAN NACKSTRAND/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking about taking on the USWNT head coach role before the Olympics, Hayes spoke passionately about fulfilling her dream of managing one of the worlds most dominant forces in womens football.

And after clinching the gold medal in Paris, Hayes could hardly contain her emotions.

Im very emotional. Its been a dream of mine to be in this position, Hayes said. I have to thank my dad because hes the one who pushed me to this point to be able to come and coach an unbelievable group of players that have received me so well and taken on board everything I have asked. They are tremendous people and players and role models. Yeah, I love them.

Saturdays triumph wasnt always easy. Twice goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher pulled out sensational saves to deny Brazil. Manager Arthur Elias will surely feel this was an opportunity wasted rather than one lost, his side having spurned too many good opportunities against one of footballs greatest-ever results-driven managers.

[USWNT win gold in the final against Brazil]

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USWNT win gold in the final against Brazil(Image: Photo by Daniela Porcelli/ISI Photos/Getty Images)

[Gold Medalists of Team United States pose for a photo on the podium with Emma Hayes' son]

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Gold Medalists of Team United States pose for a photo on the podium with Emma Hayes' son(Image: Getty Images)

Its in these spaces Hayes knows how to punish opposition teams, and historically so too did the USWNT and now again. In the quarter-finals and semi-finals, Hayes side relied on singular moments of star power to navigate potential disasters in extra-time. Parts of the displays were convincing. Questions lurched about rotation. But underpinning any threat was also a lingering sense of inevitability, an aura that for so long was synonymous with the perennial world champions and has now been recovered.

The gold medal triumph means Hayes is now one for one on successful major tournaments with the USWNT.

How inevitable her track record becomes remains to be seen. The former Chelsea boss will be looking towards the falls upcoming friendly clash with Sarina Wiegmans Lionesses as a significant litmus test of her sides growing strength. But for now, the USWNT depart the French capital as deserving Olympic champions.

Discovery+ is the new home of the Olympics

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Discovery+ is the new home of the Olympics. The streamer is set to broadcast 3,800 hours of sport live from Paris.

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