Head Coach Alex Epakis has called for “absolute focus” from his Glory side when they come up against Wellington Phoenix in Monday afternoon’s Liberty A-League showdown at Wanderers Football Park (kick-off at 3.35pm WST).
View the full media conference HERE.
Phoenix are enduring a tough maiden season in the competition, picking up just one point from their eight games thus far and suffering a number of heavy defeats.
But Epakis is adamant that there is no danger of his charges underestimating the Kiwi side as they look to secure a victory which could propel them into the top four.
“We know exactly from the position we were in last year that we need to go in with absolute focus,” he said.
“We need to be at our best and we need to ensure that our performances are improving each week.
“That’s the key barometer for our own success as a group.
“We know if we perform and do our jobs collectively, the result will take care of itself and that’s the focus; it doesn’t matter who the opposition is.
“What we’re expecting is to come up against a resilient group who have suffered some disappointments and heartbreak with goals they’ve conceded when they’ve been in matches.
“That fuels teams on and we know they’re going to come out with the same mindset to put on the best show they possibly can.
“The key thing for us is to try and assert dominance early and take the energy out of their momentum.”
Given the trials and tribulations he and the group went through last season, Glory’s Head Coach was quick to express his admiration for Monday’s opponents who have been forced to try and adapt to A-League football while based in New South Wales.
“If I could give them all a hug, I would, because I know the pain of last year and there are a lot of similarities,” he said.
“But credit to the coach and the group; they just come up every game and put in a determined effort and performance and they have my utmost respect.
“The challenges are there for everyone to see and they’re doing really well.”
Glory will head into the Phoenix game in buoyant mood following Sunday’s victory over Western Sydney Wanderers, a performance which left Epakis delighted.
“We were a bit frustrated after the Jets match in particular because we really felt that we should have walked away with three points,” he said.
“That frustration, leading into the Western Sydney match, meant that we were even more focused and willing to fight to get the three points.
“The performance against Western Sydney was, in my opinion, the best in the two years that I’ve been here.
“I think the players know that and it certainly gives the group a lot of confidence, because what we’re focusing on, the messages we’re saying and what we’re working on on the training field, all came to life in that match.”
The Head Coach went on to suggest that the impressive form of a number of his players should be placing them in the frame for a call-up to the Matildas squad.
“We’ve got half of the national Under-20 team sitting in Perth Glory colours,” he said, “and I hope the national team staff are doing their due diligence to ensure that they’re looking at all players and making sure that all those that deserve an opportunity get an opportunity.”
In terms of early team news, meanwhile, Epakis confirmed that injured trio Demi Koulizakis, Susan Phonsongkham and Cyera Hintzen are making good progress, although he does not expect them to return to action until next week.
Wellington’s best result of the season to date came in Round One when they held Western Sydney Wanderers to a 0-0 draw and while they have lost every game since, Gemma Lewis’ side were only edged out 1-0 by Adelaide United in their most recent outing.
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