Most soccer analysts are eager to cast a shadow over USWNT’s prospects for the Olympic gold. It is not surprising, considering Team USA has struggled to showcase its group-stage momentum in the quarter-final against Japan. As it happened, a bunch of worn-out players barely survived against Japan, with Trinity Rodman finding a goal at the death. Meanwhile, former US stars such as Tobin Heath and Christen Press still believe Team USA lacks the depth to clinch the Olympic gold. However, unfazed by the doubts, coach Emma Hayes recently gave a reality check on how the game of soccer is.

Hayes is very well aware that the USWNT’s game against Japan was far from the team’s best display. But she says, football, like any other sport, can’t always be entertaining. “It’s not always flashy. And it’s not always what fans want to see. But, like, this is football,” said Emma Hayes, as compiled by Yahoo Sports. The British coach also added she expected the Japan game to be as tough as it was. She said she thought the USWNT had a “million percent” chance to struggle against Japan. The 47-year-old also lauded Japan’s mentality and work ethic.

“They’re exceptional,” Hayes said. “Their block is the best in the world at doing that, in terms of the way they shift, the way they step, the way they read the rotations. They work their socks off.”

Interestingly, Team USA’s game-winning goalscorer Trinity Rodman, who struggled the most during the quarter-final, echoed coach Hayes’ statement regarding the reality of soccer.

Rodman also thinks like Emma Hayes, citing soccer won’t always be cinematic

It was indeed cinematic when Trinity Rodman fired a 107th-minute strike for the USWNT to oust Japan in the QFs. What preceded the moment was dry and Rodman thinks it is not a surprise. “It’s inevitable to play games like that. We talk about it a lot: Not all soccer’s pretty soccer,” said Rodman in a post-game interview. The Washington Spirit star notably took immense help from the team physios that night and reportedly even blacked out after the final whistle. Thankfully, Rodman thinks it is a part of the game and is now steering USWNT’s frontline in the semi-final against Germany.

When we look at Emma Hayes’ statement about football not always being flashy, it is clear that she has the utmost conviction for what she has been doing. She has been facing flak for not rotating her team enough. Then again, Hayes responded by saying football can’t be played with too many changes. To further establish her knowledge of the beautiful game, coach Hayes said she has been donning a manager’s hat for quite some time. Let’s see if the Paris Olympics give more bragging rights to the sensational 47-year-old boss.