Matildas star Ellie Carpenter is challenging Football Australia to make the right decision on the next full-time coach

The Matildas’ next manager must deliver results, a top-flight style of football and restore the team to the top 10 in the world, says vice-captain Ellie Carpenter.

And the attractive defender is adamant the process can begin with interim manager Tom Sermanni.

Football Australia has consulted with the Matildas leadership group of Sam Kerr, Steph Catley, Carpenter and Emily van Egmond about the search for Tony Gustavsson’s successor.

This coach will be in charge of the next four-year cycle, headlined by the 2026 Asian Cup, the 2027 Women’s World Cup and the 2028 Olympic Games.

The Matildas have not won the Asian Cup since claiming it with Sermanni in 2010, and their best finish at both the World Cup and the Olympics is fourth.

“Yes, we had some conversations initially, but at the end of the day we trust them for this process and to make the right decision,” Carpenter said.

“For us it’s simple: we want a manager who can get the best out of every player to play the best football and get results.

“Now we are 15th in the world and I think we are not satisfied with that, and yes, we have to produce results in the next two years and this is a very important start of a massive cycle for this team.”

Experienced mentor Sermanni’s interim tenure begins in earnest against world number 25 Switzerland on Saturday morning (AEDT) and world number four Germany three days later.

“With Tommy he’s just the interim right now, he’s expressed that he’s 100 percent with us, and I think it’s important to have that from the get-go,” Carpenter said.

He said he expected Australia to play with confidence and freedom against Switzerland and Germany, and return to the form that saw them beat top 10 nations.

“The girls really want to buy into it and get back to their winning ways,” Carpenter said.

“Because we are 15th and the results from now on matter to us, especially leading the World Cup with rankings.

“So we’re about to do a job, we’re about to perform and we want to be back in the top 10.”

Carpenter was confident that winning would not come at the expense of playing exciting football.

“Football is football and sometimes you win ugly,” he said.

“But for us, we want to play well. We want to play our style of play, the Australian way, and I think for us we have to go out and play, represent our country and get back to winning ways.

“This fresh new cycle, it’s kind of like starting from scratch.

“But it’s important for us to get results. We want to win. We don’t like to lose.”

Right-back Carpenter is still enjoying his football in Lyon, playing a “free role” with Australian coach Joe Montemurro.

“In my form at the moment, I feel really good,” he said.

“I hope I can bring this form of this set-up to the national team.”

AAP