Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson has accepted full responsibility for his side’s AFC Women’s Asian Cup flop and hopes he is given the chance to make amends.
Australia’s hopes of winning the Women’s Asian Cup for the second time were brought to a crashing halt on Sunday when the Matildas suffered a shock 1-0 quarter-final loss to Korea Republic in Pune.
It was the Matildas’ worst finish at an Asian Cup, and has heaped massive pressure on Gustavsson just 18 months out from the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“I know the pressure is going to be on me. I take full ownership of the result tonight,” Gustavsson said.
“People are going to criticise me, which I think is fair. But I also hope they do that by looking at the performance as well, so it’s a fair criticism.”
When asked whether he thinks he will keep his job in the wake of the early Asian Cup exit, Gustavsson replied: “I’ve been around long enough to know those questions are going to come from all over the place.
“That’s fair, that’s OK, that’s what it should be in this business.
“It’s not me to decide that one.
“What I can promise is that I’ve been around long…
