Paris 2024: Former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni throws support behind Tony Gustavsson
In an extraordinary interview the Matildas longest serving coach has publicly defended ousted coach Tony Gustavsson and said the disastrous Olympic result is not the coach’s fault.
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Former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni has said players need to “go out and just do your job” in light of the fierce criticism of Tony Gustavsson’s reign.
Privately some Matildas have described Gustavsson’s coaching as “disorganised chaos”, with the team producing their worst Olympic performance in 20 years.
Sermanni said the criticism was unfair and that it was easy to find disgruntled players in light of a loss.
“I don’t want to get into the players – but go out and just do your job,” Sermanni told this masthead.
On the eve of the Paris Olympics the Matildas had collectively spoken of their hope to break a 14-year old medal drought. Sermanni said the “hype” around the team before these Olympics overshadowed their ability.
“It’s disappointing that they didn’t get through the group, unfortunately the hype around the team sometimes overshadows the reality of what the team can achieve,” Sermanni said.
“I think [Gustavsson] gets an unfair wrap in that – if you got a squad of 20 players as a journalist you can find the story you want to find, players will always be upset by not playing attacking enough or playing out of position, it is an easy find to find players who are upset or unhappy …”
Sermanni was the longest serving coach of the Matildas and led the team to win the Asian Cup 14 years ago. It was the last time the Matildas won a major tournament.
Sermanni pointed out the team only missed out on making the quarterfinals at the Olympics by the narrowest of margins and backed in Gustavsson’s direction.
Against football powerhouse the USA, Gustavsson coached defensively and while they lost 2-1, Sermanni noted this almost worked.
“They changed tactics in the different games, against America they parked the bus and did it quite successfully – it almost worked – as a coach if it had worked; you are a hero if it doesn’t you are the bad guy. If Tony had chosen to chase the game (against the USA) from the start and lost 4-0 everyone would have been up in arms,” Sermanni said.
“The reality at the end of the day is the players picked for a national team and then picked for the first 11 shouldn’t have much to complain about.
“Their job is to play how the coach wants them to play. I didn’t see Tony asking them to do anything that was outrageous, for example he didn’t ask Mary Fowler to play as centre back or goalkeeper.”
Sermanni said the news of Gustavsson’ departing the team after his four stint was not unexpected.
The plan is to hunt far and wide for a new Matildas coach but with a sense one the best and booming brands in women’s football deserves the “best coach”.
Football officials are expected to look aboard but Sermanni said whoever got the top job should be required to live in Australia in order to oversee the entire operation from Junior Matildas to senior level – a process that crumbled eight years ago.
Sermanni said they also need a coach who can manage “high profile squad of players”.
“These players are among the most recognisable athletes in Australia and there is a challenge that goes along with managing athletes at that level – they need confidence, personality and management skills to do that,” Sermanni said.
“The second aspect is something we were talking about last seven to eight years ago and that is the regeneration in this squad. That is where the domestic aspect of the job becomes really important.”
While football officials are expected to look abroad they also haven’t ruled out recruiting an Australian coach.
Football Australia’s James Johnson last week confirmed that the next coach would likely need to be more of a development coach rather than a “tournament coach” that Gustavsson was.
Originally published as Paris 2024: Former Matildas coach Tom Sermanni throws support behind Tony Gustavsson
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