Stajcic saga behind Matlidas

If Alen Stajcic’s exit created an elephant in the dressing room, Matildas players are doing a great job avoiding it.

Steph Catley training with the Matildas ahead of the Cup of Nations

If Alen Stajcic’s exit from the Matildas created an elephant in the dressing room, Australia’s players are doing a great job avoiding it.

The Matildas have been in camp for five days before their Cup of Nations tournament, which kicks off for them against New Zealand tomorrow in Sydney, and they insist the dramatic coach swap isn’t even discussed.

Stajcic was fired by Football Federation Australia last month for what the governing body says was a toxic culture that had built up under his leadership. While the ousted coach denied the charges, FFA moved swiftly to appoint Socceroos assistant Ante Milicic in his place.

The exit drew a media storm, with suggestions of conspiratorial behaviour and enormous hurt for those close to the saga; not least of all, the players.

Steph Catley, who captained Australia in the Asian Cup final last year, said she struggled to engage with what’s been written.

“I have stayed away from a lot of the reports,” she said.

“Things happened and we have to get on with it. Ante’s come in, we’ve accepted that and have to move forward with whatever he thinks is best for us.” Catley said suggestions the team had been split by the feud were wrong.

“It’s not accurate in how we actually feel about each other,” she said. “We’ve known each other for years … We’re a family. We know who we are and what we’re about.”

If there’s been a strain on the players, it’s not showing in camp. Training sessions have been hard but upbeat, with a jovial atmosphere that has come to characterise the team.

Players to have spoken publicly at the camp have only alluded to the trauma of the coach swap.

Emily Gielnik mentioned a “hard time”. Hayley Raso said the team is “looking forward”.

Alanna Kennedy, who like Catley was a mainstay of the team under Stajcic, said the camp hadn’t featured any heart-to-heart discussions or a truth-telling moment with Milicic.

“We had that in the couple of days after (Stajcic’s sacking) was announced,” she said, referring to their two-day summit in Coogee last month.

“It’s not a talking point for us. Our talking point is the games and that’s where our focus is on.”

Players also agree that Milicic’s arrival has provided a fresh wind under their wings. The highly rated coach has already won over Kennedy in just a few days.

“He’s slotted right in. He’s stamped his authority and there’s a lot of mutual respect,” she said. “He trusts us and we trust him. It’s been a really positive transition.”

Midfielder Amy Harrison, 22, linked up with the Matildas yesterday, completing her second recovery from a serious knee injury.

Ten days ago, Harrison replaced Chloe Logarzo in Sydney FC’s W-League grand final triumph after the forward suffered an ankle injury. That same injury will now see Harrison take Logarzo’s spot in the Matildas camp.

Harrison has seven caps for the Matildas in a young career marred by injury. She was hopeful of competing at the 2016 Olympics, only to tear her ACL and medial collateral ligaments on her right knee.

After returning to the sport and the national team set-up, she suffered the same injuries on her left knee in January last year.

She returned to the W-League in December, proving her fitness in Sydney’s run to the title, and is now likely to don a Matildas shirt.

AAP