"The belief in this group" Hayes and Horan emphasise new-found confidence after gold medal success
In what will be a worrying line to hear for the rest of the world, USA head coach Emma Hayes and captain Lindsey Horan believe there's more to come after winning gold in Paris on Sunday...
"The belief in this group," said Lindsey Horan in a simple yet effective manner when asked about how the team she captains won Olympic gold less than three months after Emma Hayes took over as head coach.
Sat in the depths of a stadium in the city she once called home, Horan, as well as Hayes, were filled with giddy enthusiasm after their 1-0 win over Brazil, and while both know there is naturally work to be done while still so early in the process under the former Chelsea boss, there was the feeling of a start of something good post-match in Paris.
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"The will, all the players being coachable, buying in," continued the captain. "It's not easy for Emma, it's not easy for us. I think this journey has been incredible, but there's so much belief in every single one of us and I saw it in every game.
"Forget the principles and tactical adjustments, it's the belief someone is going to get a goal and we're going to go out and win that game. We talk about the US mentality, I felt that today."
As Hayes, almost in a daze staring straight forward trying to take it all in, nodded along to every word Horan said, it was a time for everyone to take in exactly what Hayes has achieved.
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