“It’s been a very long time coming and the boys are eager to get going”.
That was the message from Richard Garcia as the club’s new Head Coach fronted the media ahead of Wednesday evening’s A-League season-opener against Adelaide United at HBF Park (kick-off at 6.20pm, tickets HERE).
https://players.brightcove.net/5498268486001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6223951316001
It has been 318 days since Glory last played an A-League game at home and Garcia is adamant that while his charges will be the last team in the competition to get their 2020/21 campaign underway, they are primed and ready to go.
“They’ve been good on the training pitch and they’re really looking forward to Wednesday night,” he said.
“We’ve tried to play a lot of 11 v 11 in training and make sure that we’re training hard, so they’re very prepared for the task ahead.
“The guys are reacting well to the messages we’re putting across.
“When you have a motivated group of guys, they do it themselves.
“The key is making sure that they’re in the right headspace and that’s something that happens every day.
“So if we continue to drive these guys every day and make sure they’re focused on what they’re doing, they’ll drive themselves.”
Glory’s opponents will head into the game having already played twice this term, picking up a draw and a win and Garcia is certainly not underestimating the threat Carl Veart’s men will pose.
“Adelaide have had a game called off, so they’ve probably trained a bit more than they would have wanted to as well and will be just as prepared as we are,” he said.
“They look like a lively team that are well coached and well drilled.
“It’ll be a tough test, but one that we’re looking forward to.”
Garcia went on to confirm that Osama Malik (shoulder) will not be fit enough to face one of his former clubs, a quad strain is set to rule Brandon Wilson out and Diego Castro will be given as long as possible to prove that he has shrugged off a muscle injury.
Adelaide, meanwhile, will again be without Spanish import Javi Lopez as he continues to battle a knee injury.
Match Details
Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Perth Glory v Adelaide United
HBF Park, Perth
Kick-Off: 6:20pm (Local)(9:20pm (AEDT))
Referee: Adam Fielding
Assistant Referee 1: Josh Mannella
Assistant Referee 2: Matthew Southern
Fourth Official: Shane Skinner
VAR: Kurt Ams
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #PERvADL
Perth Glory Squad: 1.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 5.Jonathan ASPROPOTAMITIS, 9.Bruno FORNAROLI, 10.Andy KEOGH, 13.Luke BODNAR, 16.Nick SULLIVAN, 17.Diego CASTRO (C), 18.Nick D’AGOSTINO, 19.Calllum TIMMINS, 20.Carlo ARMIENTO, 21.Bryce BAFFORD, 22.Josh RAWLINS, 23.Dane INGHAM, 24.Daniel STYNES, 25.Nicholas WALSH, 26.Giordano COLLI, 29.Darryl LACHMAN, 33.Liam REDDY (GK), 37.Riley WARLAND, 88.Neil KILKENNY
** 2-4 to be omitted**
Unavailable: 6.Osama MALIK (shoulder 2-3 weeks), 7.Chris IKONOMIDIS (ankle – 4 weeks), 15.Brandon WILSON (quad – 1 week)
Adelaide United squad: 1.James DELIANOV (gk), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.George TIMOTHEOU, 4.Ryan STRAIN, 6.Louis D’ARRIGO, 8.Stefan MAUK (c), 9.Tomi JURIC, 15.Noah SMITH, 16.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS, 17.Mohamed TOURE, 18.Joe CALETTI, 19.Yaya DUKULY, 22.Michael JAKOBSEN, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 24.Pacifique NIYONGABIRE, 26.Ben HALLORAN, 29.Kusini YENGI, 34.Yared ABETEW, 37.Jonny YULL, 46.Joe GAUCI
**2-4 to be omitted**
Ins: 34.Yared ABETEW (promoted), 37.Jonny YULL (promoted), 46.Joe GAUCI (promoted)
Outs: 33.Dakota OCHSENHAM (not selected)
Unavailable: 21.Javi LÓPEZ (knee), 35.Al Hassan TOURE (ankle)
#OneGlory
