USWNT's Emma Hayes confronts 'hardest thing to do in coaching' before Olympics

In the wake of the United States women's national team's scoreless draw against Costa Rica on Tuesday night, head coach Emma Hayes claimed that she faces the "hardest thing to do in coaching" as she tries to improve the USWNT's goalscoring form later this month at the Olympics .

“Listen, if you play a game of percentages or law of averages, we’re creating more and more high-quality chances, and we’re getting more numbers into the key areas,” Hayes told reporters. “The last part’s the hardest part. And I’m really patient, because I’ve coached teams that have to break blocks down, and it’s the hardest thing to do in coaching. And if we didn’t create situations tonight then yeah, I might say something different, but I really love the intent of the team.”

The former Chelsea coach's positivity matched the tone she's presented to the public lately. Hayes wants to uplift players amid external concerns about their chances of medalling at the Paris Games.

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Despite the USWNT failing to find the net against Costa Rica, an opponent it typically dominates, the squad felt good about the chances it created in the send-off friendly in Washington D.C.

“I would say we did the hard parts well, and then once it came to the final pass and the final finish, it wasn’t coming to us,” said Trinity Rodman , who earlier in the week hyped up Hayes to the media. “I think that’ll come. We have such a talented group.”

At the Olympics, the USWNT will face Zambia, Germany and Australia in group-stage action. Hayes believes the Stars and Stripes are prepared to handle those matches after their slate friendlies over the past two months.

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“If we went into [the match against] Zambia perfect, I’d be worried,” said Hayes via Pro Soccer Wire . “I feel the opposite. I think we’ve had - in the Korea [games], the Mexico game, the Costa Rica game - four very different exercises. One, as I said earlier, breaking down a mid-block. Two, breaking down an aggressive mid-block. Three, breaking down the team that beat us in the Gold Cup with more man-for-man marking. Four, breaking down a low, low block.

“What great exposures for us as a team. And trust me, you have to do different things in different moments to be able to [succeed against each]. Playing against low blocks, for any team in football, is the hardest to do.

“So I think for us, it’s being mindful that if we keep creating chances in the right area, keep getting numbers in the box, keep getting as many touches as possible in that area, those goals will come. That, I’m sure of.”