The Matildas’ failure at the Paris Olympics is motivating Mary Fowler to improve

An Aussie star has brought great club form with her into Matildas camp ahead of games against Switzerland and Germany.

The Matildas’ poor performance at the Olympic Games has motivated Mary Fowler to star for her English Women’s Super League club Manchester City.

Fowler has been a key factor in the excellent early season form of City, who sit unbeaten on top of both the WSL ladder and the club’s UEFA Women’s Champions League group.

The 21-year-old attacking weapon has already scored in both competitions and brings top form into the Matildas camp ahead of Saturday morning’s friendly international against Switzerland in Zurich.

“I’m pretty happy with how things have worked out so far (this season),” Fowler said.

She couldn’t say the same about the Matildas’ effort a few months ago at the Paris Olympics, where they failed to reached the knockout stages of the women’s football tournament.

“The nice thing about football is that you always get another chance to do better,” she said.

“Club football came around quite soon after the Olympics, and I just wanted to be able to have that fresh start and just be better than I was when I was at the Olympics.

“It did give me quite a bit of motivation to be better.”

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Fowler said there was a similar feeling in the entire Matildas squad ahead of this weekend’s match and Tuesday morning’s game against Germany in Duisburg.

“There’s a lot of motivation within the group to want to come here and, not make a point, but be doing better than what we did when we were last together,” she said.

The actual amount of time we have together as a group is quite short, so still maximising that time is important for us.”

Fowler said she was looking forward to working with interim Matildas coach Tom Sermanni following the departure of previous mentor Tony Gustavsson after the Olympics.

“It is quite an exciting period,” she said.

“My first impressions (of Sermanni) have been good. He seems like a nice guy, and there’s been a positive vibe in the group.

“It’s nice to be back together and have some fresh ideas.”

Fowler was also pleased the Matildas had time on their side in preparing for their next major tournament, the 2026 AFC Women’s Asian Cup, which is being held in Australia.

“It’s nice not to have that pressure of having a tournament right around the corner,” she said.

“It does give you a bit of licence to try things. and have maybe different players come in and give them a chance.”

Originally published as The Matildas’ failure at the Paris Olympics is motivating Mary Fowler to improve