Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich believes that his Glory side is well placed to produce another positive performance in Monday’s ISUZU UTE A-League clash with Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium (kick-off at 4.45pm WST).
View his full media conference HERE.
Glory have picked up four points in three games since the competition resumed following the World Cup break, a tally which could and perhaps should, have been greater.
And while wary of the threat posed by the fifth-placed Reds who downed Glory 2-1 in Round 4, Zadkovich is quietly confident that a second away win of the season is achievable.
“Adelaide are a very good side, especially at Hindmarsh,” he said.
“It’s a tough place to go.
“From personal experience as a player and now having been there as a coach a couple of times, it’s always a cagey affair and they’re very much in your face.
“We know what we’re in for, we’ve been preparing well on the grass and the lads have trained really well.
“So they are all positive signs for a good performance and we aim for three points in every game.
“We’re still a work in progress and we still need a few additions to make us a top team, but what I’m really pleased with and positive about at the moment is that there has been a really clear identity to the way the team has played in the last three performances which have been really good.”
The Head Coach was also keen to stress that Glory’s main focus ahead of the game has been inwards.
“We know they’ve got threats, we know what they’re about, we know how they play,” he said.
“But in the end it’s about us and how well we defend as a collective.
“I like to think that we can put in the type of performance on the ball that we have in the last three games, when we’ve been the better side and won one, lost one and had a draw.
“We go into the game with plenty of belief.”
Victory at Coopers Stadium could potentially propel Glory to within two points of the top six in what remains a very congested table and Zadkovich feels that the true pattern of the season is yet to emerge.
“We’ve been in most matches,” he said.
“It’s also worth noting that we’ve only played twice at home and we’re unbeaten at home.
“The league and the ladder, I believe, will level itself out when we’ve played as many home games as some of these other teams.
“That’s the tough start to the season that we’ve faced.
“I still think we’ve dropped some points that we could have taken in some of those away games and that’s frustrating and slightly disappointing, but what I am taking a lot of positive energy from is just how hard the players are working and how much they’re staying together.
“They’ve been really resolute in their belief in terms of where the club and the team is going.
“They can feel that we’re growing and improving and that will put us in good stead at the back end of the season.
“We’d like to get more points on the board.
“Obviously we don’t want to be where we are on the ladder, but we stay very clear in our belief and in the process.
“I think that’s very important at a time like this.”
Carl Veart’s men will be looking for a first win in four games having lost to Newcastle Jets and Wellington Phoenix and drawn with Brisbane Roar since resuming their campaign.
Craig Goodwin has again been their standout performer, scoring four goals and adding the same number of assists, while Japanese target-man Hiroshi Ibusuki has found the net three times.
Glory’s last two visits to Coopers Stadium have both ended in defeat, but overall, the men in purple have enjoyed eight victories in the 26 previous editions of this fixture.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 10
Adelaide United v Perth Glory
Coopers Stadium
Monday 2 January 2023
Kick-off: 4.45pm WST (6.15pm Local)
#ONEGlory
