Emma Hayes said leading the United States women's team into Saturday's Olympic gold-medal match against Brazil is "the stuff dreams are made of".

The 47-year-old is seeking a first major trophy with the US just three months after she left Chelsea to take on what she described as "the biggest job in women's football".

Saturday's showdown at Parc des Princes (16:00 BST) will be a repeat of the 2004 and 2008 finals in which the US beat Brazil on both occasions.

"Going from my beloved Chelsea to the US women’s national team - what a whirlwind and what a dream all at once," Hayes said in Friday's pre-match news conference in Paris.

"To finish my time with Chelsea with another Women's Super League title and then be here competing for gold, honestly this is the stuff dreams are made of. I have visualised this moment so many times in my life."

The US are chasing a fifth Olympic football gold medal in Paris and it is 12 years since they last won the competition, having taken bronze in Tokyo in 2021.

Just 84 days after leading Chelsea to a fifth successive WSL title, Hayes is hungry to add another medal to her collection.

"I like winning, it's part of my DNA," she said. "I'm with a team that likes winning so of course our goal is to win the gold medal."

The US come up against a Brazil side who will be boosted by the return of captain Marta after she was suspended for their sensational 4-2 semi-final victory over world champions Spain.

Brazil are seeking their first women's football Olympic gold.

The US beat Germany 1-0 in the semi-finals thanks to a dramatic 95th-minute winner from Sophia Smith on Tuesday.

That victory came a year to the day after their shocking early exit from the Women's World Cup, where they fell in the last 16 to Sweden.

Their fall from grace - they had been world champions since 2015 - led to Hayes' appointment and the subsequent revival in the early months of her tenure.

"It's been noted on more than one occasion what happened at the World Cup," said Hayes, who led Chelsea to 13 major trophies in her 11 years in charge.

"We want to create a new history. We want to create our new identity and that journey has been about getting those things right. It's been an unbelievable journey so far to get to this point."

After securing a spot in their record-extending sixth gold-medal match, the US hope to return to the heights of women's football in Paris.

They saw off European finalists Germany and Asian giants Japan in the knockout stages, having gone four hours without conceding.

Forward Smith said: "It's a challenge to build trust with a new coach, let alone a few months before a world tournament, but she just came in flying and we absolutely love her.

"She has worked every day to build our trust and show us that she genuinely cares about us, not only as players, but as people. That goes a long way.

"She's such a great coach, such a great mentor. She knows exactly what to say and when you need to hear it. We're a completely different team."

Brazil's all-time leading goalscorer Marta, 38, was in tears after being shown a red card during their 2-0 defeat by Spain in the group stages.

Her side responded to see off France in the quarter-finals and get their revenge on Spain on Tuesday to set up a blockbuster clash with the US.

It will be Marta's last appearance in a Brazil shirt as she confirmed she will retire from international football after the Olympics.

"We have all the motivation but we all wanted to play the final of the Olympics regardless of the circumstances, regardless of what happened to Marta," Brazil midfielder Angelina said.

"But of course this is an extra motivation and we want to give this medal to Marta. She has given us so much throughout her career so she really deserves to be playing the final and to have the opportunity to claim the gold medal."