
The Alen Stajcic saga has cast a shadow over Australian football but Matildas forward Caitlin Foord says the former coach would want the team to move on.
Football Federation Australia is in the process of announcing a new head coach who will take the Matildas to this month’s Cup of Nations and June’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
Despite a tumultuous few weeks Foord, 24, believes shifting her focus to her W-League commitments has helped her process what occurred.
“It was a massive shock to everyone and it has been challenging,” Foord said on Evenings on FNR.
“Focusing on the W-League and our own teams has made this easier, it forced us to push it aside.
“We still have to play and luckily for us we’re in the Grand Final and it doesn’t give us much time to speculate about what’s about to happen.
“It will be hard having to continue without Stajcic who has been on this journey with us for so long but we know he’d want us to re-focus.
“He’s always told us not to get caught up and despite everything that’s happened our goals have still remained.”
Foord’s Sydney FC will meet Perth Glory in the W-League Grand Final on Saturday afternoon.
Sydney’s defence will face a herculean task coming up against an in-form Samantha Kerr and Rachel Hill.
“We know they’re going to be tough and solid,” Foord said.
“If we focus on ourselves and our jobs we’ll be fine, we just want to focus on us.
“I have faith in our backline to contain (Sam) Kerr and (Rachel) Hill.”