ALM Match Preview: “There’s a new energy in the squad” – Zdrila

Glory Head Coach David Zdrilic believes that his side are charged up and ready to go toe-to-toe with Melbourne Victory in Saturday’s Isuzu UTE A-League Round 17 clash at HBF Park (kick-off at 6:45pm, tickets available HERE).

Click HERE to view his full pre-match media conference

The men in purple may have only collected one win from their last three home games against Western United, Auckland FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, but there was a significant upswing in the performance levels.

They duly followed up by claiming a battling point away at the Jets last weekend and Zdrilic is adamant that with new recruits Lachie Wales, Yuto Misao, Pat Wood and Tass Mourdoukoutas all in the selection mix and the prospect of the Glory faithful in full voice, they have what it takes to provide Victory with a stern challenge.

“It’s been another good week of training,” he said.

“We’ve had the new players coming in and it’s given us more of a chance to get them integrated and also [familiar with] the conditions.

“There’s a new energy in the squad and we want to keep ourselves in every game and make sure we have a chance to win, like we did against Newcastle.

“The energy at home is different.

“The mentality is that we’re going into every game at home to bring the crowd on our side and win the game.

“That win against Auckland and even before that in the game against Western United when we still feel we could have won, the crowd straight away pounced on it and you could feel that they really want to back us and that they’re always there for us.”

The Head Coach went on to discuss central defender Andriano Lebib whom he confirmed is set to miss at least another two games due to a knee injury.

“He’s had an issue with his knee and he’s been managing it,” he said.

“We’ve had an MRI on his knee and he’s been playing with an injury there that’s been being managed.

“But it’s a week to week thing and last week he just wasn’t able to do it.

“He won’t be included this week either.

“It’s unfortunate, but we want to make sure of his well-being, that’s the first thing and where that’s going to end up with his knee, I’m not sure.

“But at the moment, he won’t be in the squad this week or even next week.”

In terms of Saturday’s opponents, meanwhile, their only win in the last seven games came last weekend against Sydney FC and they were also forced to switch Head Coach after Patrick Kisnorbo’s shock departure last month.

But Zdrilic still believes that the navy-and-whites, now managed by Arthur Diles, remain a class act.

“They’re the strongest team in the league for me in terms of the quality in their first eleven, but also their depth,” he said.

“I mean, four go off and four guys that would normally start in any other team come on.

“So they have that quality.

“Obviously with the changeover in the coaching situation, it’s normal that it would have an impact on their results, but I think their play is still very similar and very dominant.

“I’m sure they’re very relieved that they go that win against Sydney, but for us, we’re at home and we want to make sure that we’re very strong and give ourselves a chance to win like we have in the last few games at HBF Park.”

Victory made an impressive start to the campaign, losing just one of their opening eight games before their form took a downturn from late December.

Despite that recent slump, however, only Auckland FC and Melbourne City have conceded fewer goals than Diles’ side and they also boast a plethora of attacking threats, including former Glory man Bruno Fornaroli, Greek import Nikos Vergos, Socceroo Daniel Arzani, French creator Zinedine Machach and livewire winger Reno Piscopo.

Saturday will mark Victory’s 26th A-League visit to HBF Park and they will be looking to secure what would be their eighth win to Glory’s 13.

Match Details

Isuzu UTE A-League 2024-25 Season Round 17

Perth Glory v Melbourne Victory

HBF Park

Saturday 1 February 2025

Kick-off: 6:45pm


Perth Glory squad: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 4.Tass MOURDOUKOUTAS, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 12.Taras GOMULKA, 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 14.Nathanael BLAIR,15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 16.Adam BUGARIJA, 17.Yuto MISAO, 18.Lachie WALES, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER, 22.Adam TAGGART, 23.Patrick WOOD, 25.Jaylan PEARMAN, 26.Khoa NGO, 27.Will FRENEY, 28.Kaelan MAJEKODUNMI, 29.Tomi MRCELA, 31.Joel ANASMO

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 26.Khoa NGO

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: 5.Lachie BARR (injured), 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON (injured), 9.David WILLIAMS (injured), 10.Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 24.Andriano LEBIB (injured)

Melbourne Victory squad: 1. Mitch LANGERAK, 3. Adama TRAORE, 5. Brendan HAMILL, 6. Ryan TEAGUE, 7. Daniel ARZANI, 8. Zinedine MACHACH, 9. Nikolaos VERGOS, 10. Bruno FORNAROLI, 11. Clerismario SANTOS RODRIGUES, 14. Jordi VALADON, 16. Joshua INSERRA, 17. Nishan VELUPILLAY, 18. Fabian MONGE, 19. Jing REEC, 21. Roderick MIRANDA, 22. Joshua RAWLINS, 25. Jack DUNCAN, 26. Luka KOLIC, 27. Reno PISCOPO, 28. Kasey BOS

(Two to be omitted)

Ins: 19. Jing REEC (promoted), 26. Luka KOLIC (promoted)

Outs: Nil

Unavailable: Nil

(photo courtesy of Mark Francesca)

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