Head Coach David Zdrilic is confident that his Glory charges will produce a strong reaction to their Round 4 defeat against Melbourne City when they take on Western United in Friday’s Unite Round clash at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium (kick-off at 2:30pm WST).
View his full pre-match media conference HERE
The men in purple were well beaten at HBF Park in their most recent outing, but subsequently used the international break to regroup.
And Zdrilic believes that they are now well placed to go head to head with a United side also searching for their first win of the campaign.
“It’s been a good international break to get a lot of good training in,” he said.
“After the first four games, it was a big reset.
“There were two results there that were not acceptable for us and the group knows that.
“The reaction from the guys after that loss to City was very positive and it doesn’t always go that way.
“The training week has been excellent, everyone is putting their hand up to go again and fight again, so that’s very positive.
“We need that positive week in training to become a positive performance.
“We’ve pretty much got the whole group back, except for [Mustafa] Amini and [Nikola] Mileusnic and everyone is back at a reasonable level where they can be selected for the squad.
“The group is now getting to the level where everyone can compete the way we should.
“We’re still adapting and changing things and that was a good break for us in which to try and find the right mix.
“We’re still trying to find that right balance and we have options there now.”
While not underestimating Friday’s opponents, Zdrilic stressed that he would love to give Glory’s travelling and NSW-based Members and fans something to celebrate.
“Western United have got a very solid base,” he said.
“They’ve been playing a similar way for multiple years now and have had a similar line-up, so they know the mechanisms and they’re very comfortable in their structure.
“They’re a very good team that also needs a win, so it’s going to be a tough challenge.
“Our fans have been fantastic.
“They travel very well; there are fans who go everywhere and they’ll be there for Unite Round.
“It’s such a loyal fanbase and we really want to reward them.”
In terms of early team news, the Head Coach confirmed that Josh Risdon will come into contention to face his former club after several weeks on the sidelines.
The Socceroos defender was one of several notable departures from Western United in the off-season, with Steven Lustica and Lachie Wales also moving on,
Their new signings, meanwhile, included former Adelaide United striker Hiroshi Ibusuki, who has scored five goals in six appearances against Glory and ex-Western Sydney Wanderers defender Tate Russell.
John Aloisi’s side began the season with consecutive 1-1 draws against Wellington Phoenix and Western Sydney Wanderers, before suffering single-goal defeats at the hands of Melbourne City and most recently, Adelaide United.
Glory will be targeting a first ever win over United outside WA, with the Victorians having claimed maximum points in nine of the 12 overall meetings between the two sides.
Match Details
Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season Matchday 5
Unite Round
Perth Glory v Western United
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Friday 22 November 2024
Kick-off: 2:30pm WST (5:30pm Local Time)
Perth Glory squad: 1.Oli SAIL (gk), 3.Anas HAMZAOUI, 5.Lachlan BARR, 6.Brandon O’NEILL, 7.Nicholas PENNINGTON, 9.David WILLIAMS, 12.Taras GOMULKA, 13.Cameron COOK (gk), 14.Nathanael BLAIR, 15.Zach LISOLAJSKI, 16.Adam BUGARIJA, 17.Jarrod CARLUCCIO, 19.Josh RISDON, 20.Trent OSTLER, 21.Abdul FAISAL, 22.Adam TAGGART (c), 23.Cristian CAICEDO, 24.Andriano LEBIB, 26.Khoa NGO, 33.Luis CANGA
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 3.Anas HAMZAOUI, 9.David WILLIAMS, 11.Hiroaki AOYAMA, 19.Josh RISDON
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 8.Mustafa AMINI (injured), 10.Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured)
Western United squad: 1. Tom HEWARD-BELLE (gk), 5. Oliver LAVALE, 7. Ramy NAJJARINE, 9. Hiroshi IBUSUKI, 10. Matthew GRIMALDI, 13. Tate RUSSELL, 14. Jake NAJDOVSKI, 17. Ben GARUCCIO, 19. Noah BOTIC, 20. Abel WALATEE, 21. Sebastian PASQUALI, 22. Kane VIDMAR, 23. Rhys BOZINOVSKI, 24. Michael RUHS, 29. Charbel SHAMOON, 30. Dylan LEONARD, 32. Angus THURGATE, 33. Matthew SUTTON (gk), 34. James YORK, 77. Riku DANZAKI
(Two to be omitted)
Ins: 7. Ramy NAJJARINE (returns from injury), 24. Michael RUHS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 4. James DONACHIE (injured), 43. Khoder KADDOUR (injured)
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