Besieged Matildas mentor Tony Gustavsson grateful for FA backing

Coach Tony Gustavsson has pleaded with frustrated Matildas fans to “trust the process” ahead of next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Embattled Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson is relieved for the support he’s receiving from Football Australia as his team stumbles its way towards next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Doubts continue to mount the Swedish mentor is the right coach to guide the Matildas at the 2023 World Cup, despite him being contracted until 2024.

This year’s Asian Cup failure sounded alarm bells, while other results during Gustavsson’s tenure of almost two years – including respective 5-2, 5-0, 3-0 and 7-0 losses to Germany, the Netherlands, USA and Spain – have been extremely disappointing.

The Matildas’ latest defeat was a 1-0 weekend loss to Canada at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.

Heading into Tuesday night’s second game of the two-match series between the teams at Sydney’s new Allianz Stadium, Gustavsson asked frustrated fans to “trust the process” just as he claimed FA heavyweights were.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson keeps an eye on training ahead of Australia’s match against Canada on Tuesday night. Picture: Mark Kolbe / Getty Images

“What I really appreciate is the support they showed after the (weekend) loss to Canada,” Gustavsson said.

“When people from the top come down to the pitch to show support … they obviously have an understanding of the process.

“Like everyone, they also want to get some momentum, so it’s natural that they want some results as well, but because they have a better insight of why we are where we are, and what we are doing, maybe there’s a little bit more patience there than outside the (national) federation.

“I know some of you might be sick and tired of me saying this, but internally, we know what we’ve done. We know where we are.

“There’s a belief in the process and I don’t think that belief is going to be lost, even if we lose the game (on Tuesday night).

“We’d be more worried if the game didn’t look good or if the performance is not there or if we were not playing the way we wanted to play.”

Gustavsson admitted he was probably his own worst enemy in terms of convincing fans he should be Australia’s coach.

“Maybe I can look in the mirror and say was I over-ambitious, trying to build depth in the roster while taking on the toughest schedule in the history of this program,” he said.

“Maybe that wasn’t best for the belief and the trust from the outside, but I was very clear with (FA) and with the players about what we were doing, so I think internally the patience is there, the trust is there and the belief is there, but externally, I understand the question (about his coaching methods) and it’s fair.”

Defender Alanna Kennedy (hamstring) is certain to be sidelined on Tuesday night, while Gustavsson said vice-captain Steph Catley was a “question mark”.