Gustavsson: "We learned a lot tonight" | Press Conference

Head coach Tony Gustavsson spoke to the media after the CommBank Matildas defeated Mexico 2-0 in San Antonio, Texas.

He began by praising Mexico for the way that they played, causing the CommBank Matildas several headaches.

“Their commitment, pressing, their tactical awareness – we know they’re good 1v1 with duels, they’re good 1v1 attacking,” he said, explaining what Mexico did well. “They really threw a challenge at us in the first 30 minutes. We knew it was coming, we prepared for it, but still we struggled to deal with it. So credit to Mexico for that.

“But that’s also exactly what we needed. We said before the game that we really wanted to test our limits tonight. We know Germany is going to come flying at us with pressing, we know the US is going to come flying at us with pressing. We said, let’s test our limits.”

He was particularly pleased with the way that his team adapted to the scenarios in front of them.

“Credit to the players. They found a way into the game the last 10 minutes of the [first] half, they solved it on the park themselves… We grew into the tempo, got used to playing much quicker football, and I think the second half – considering how good Mexico is in defending – it might be one of the better halves we’ve played attacking-wise with the ball," he continued.

“We probably had 8-10 different variations in formation today, in our attacking game. Everything from inverted outside backs, to the six dropping into a back three, to overloading one side and isolating another – there were a lot of different tactics.”

“I also think that’s a reason why we struggled in the beginning, because you overthink so much, there are so many things to think about. But then when you let go and just release and play, like we did in the second half – play more on intuition – itwas much better.”

Caitlin Foord provided the highlight of the match, a stunning effort from outside the box that doubled the CommBank Matildas lead in the second half. It was a classic Foord moment – cutting inside, dropping the shoulder, and a curling finish past the goalkeeper. Gustavsson was asked if he felt that the Arsenal forward was underappreciated by the international footballing public.

“I’ve been tracking Caitlin for a very, very long time, all the way back to my time when I was working in the US when she was playing there,” Gustavsson began.

“I see a smart player. I see a technical player. But the one thing that she has that some smart and technical players don’t have is the commitment to defend. Look at her slide tackles, look at her off-ball work. She is committed like no one else.

“She likes to compete, she is a competitor. And combine those two – being technical and competitive – it’s rare, especially at the top, top, top level. I definitely think she’s up there with the best [in the world].”

The other goalscorer was Hayley Raso. Raso has been struggling for club minutes this season with Real Madrid but is still in fantastic form for the national team. Gustavsson said that it was indicative of her work ethic at training and mentality, and also the environment that the players have created within the group.

He also praised Clare Wheeler – who came off the bench for the last 30 minutes in midfield – and Kaitlyn Torpey, who started the match at left-back in her third appearance for the team.

“Based on training, [Wheeler] actually would have deserved to start. She’s been very, very good in training, she’s come off a lot of minutes for Everton, she’s in form… it was a pre-plan to get her minutes because she deserved it.

“Torpey, was a little bit of an unusual role as a left-back… she’s picking up the principles, she’s very athletic, she’s committed, she understands the tactics. Is the left side the best side for her? Maybe not, same with Charli [Grant, who was subbed into left-back at the 80th minute], but both of them can manage an outside back position.”

“What I like is that she’s very level-headed. She doesn’t freak out and get rattled about this environment, she’s just true to herself and very confident and calm and composed, and I like that.”

The key tactical takeaway from this game was the way that the CommBank Matildas were able to play through the press. Gustavsson admitted that it took a while to get used to the way that Mexico played, but that Ellie Carpenter was key to helping the team advance the ball.

“Her tactical awareness off the ball – when to come inside behind the midfield, when to stay wide, when to drop down and support – I think Ellie tactically had one of her better games. Look at the second half – she was the key to unlock… we’re taking strides every game with Ellie and how we can utilise her.”

In all, Gustavsson said that the match was perfect preparation for the Football Olympic Tournament Paris 2024.

“We are very, very happy about this preparation because we got to test things that we are going to face in the Olympics,” he explained.

“This was for us, a very, very invaluable lesson. We learned a lot tonight.”