Matildas back new coach Ante Milicic as focus turns to World Cup
Stalwart defender Clare Polkinghorne insists new Matildas coach Ante Milicic has the full support of the squad despite the ongoing fallout from the sacking of Alen Stajcic.
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Update: Stalwart defender Clare Polkinghorne insists new Matildas coach Ante Milicic has the full support of the squad despite the ongoing fallout from the sacking of Alen Stajcic.
Milicic and under-fire Football Federation Australia CEO David Gallop fronted the media in Brisbane on Thursday ahead of the Cup of Nations tournament, a key part of the Matildas’ preparations for this year’s Women’s World Cup in France.
As part of a unified front, Polkinghorne and fellow Matildas Hayley Raso and Mackenzie Arnold were also at Suncorp Stadium.
The lack of transparency surrounding the alleged culture problems that led to Stajcic’s shock axing last month continues to haunt FFA.
Polkinghorne has previously come out in support of Stajcic, and again on Thursday admitted her surprise at his removal.
However, the Brisbane Roar captain suggested the time had come for the Matildas to focus on the task of winning the World Cup.
“Ante’s here now, and we’ve got a very important period coming up and there’s not long until our first game in France,” Polkinghorne said.
“You can see his professionalism, his determination and how focused he is on what we want to achieve as a group, and I’m sure that will be transferred over to the playing group.
“There was a lot of speculation about the group and it’s important we don’t lose focus as a team.
“Everyone here wants to win the World Cup.”
A confident Milicic had no doubt he was the right man for the job despite never having coached in women’s football before and his recent failed attempt to guide the Young Socceroos to the under-20 World Cup.
“I’m coming in with fresh eyes, with no preconceived thoughts,” said Milicic, a former Socceroos assistant who was part of Australia’s coaching staff at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.
“I’ve been around Australian sporting teams for a while now and I know what the environment needs to be. I know how we need to prepare for a World Cup.
“The girls are going to have my trust from the start. I’ll set the standards.”
Gallop maintained his silence on the reasons for Stajcic’s sacking.
“We felt a change was necessary, that’s a hard decision but sometimes circumstances require hard decisions,” said Gallop, who claimed he remained “fully committed” to his job despite the FFA board set to conduct a review into the poor way Stajcic’s sacking was handled.
“Week in week out you’re in a position where what you do is reviewed. It’s a position that’s under scrutiny, and we’re all used to that.
“You don’t make decisions to change coaches unless you’ve got good reason … the board has said they have made a decision, there won’t be a review of the decision.”
Through a spokesman, Stajcic said: “The lack of clarity and transparency continues.
“Mr Gallop’s comments have also served to further encourage ongoing innuendo and speculation, increasing the damage to my reputation and the harm to my family.
“I wish Ante Milicic and the Matildas all the very best, but the FFA must be held to account for their actions.”
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