Glory Head Coach Ruben Zadkovich has called upon his Glory charges to show further improvement in Saturday’s away clash with Melbourne City, a side he regards as the best in the A-League.
View his media conference in full HERE.
The men in purple will head to AAMI Park (kick-off at 2pm WST) looking to secure a second win of the campaign and head into the World Cup break on a positive note with six points on the board.
And while Zadkovich acknowledged that toppling the league leaders and reigning Premiers will be no easy task, he is backing his side to rise to the occasion in the Victorian capital.
“They are probably the benchmark in this competition and they have a star-studded line-up, but for us, it’s a great challenge,” he said.
“I love the prospect of pitching some players who are a lot lower on the salary totals than they are and seeing how they compete.
“We’ve got some young guys in our squad that are punching well above their weight and it will be nice to go and pitch them against the best in the comp.
“The message [to our players] is about improving.
“We’re at the start of what is going to be a big rebuild for the whole club, not just the football department.
“It’s about seeing the improvement and growth and it’s important that we focus on that.”
The Head Coach went on to discuss the twin targets which he is currently working towards.
“There are short-term goals and long-term goals and the short-term goals are obviously to win games and pick up points, but the long-term goal is to create an environment and a professional football team again and one that is competitive and sustainable,” he said.
“We want to produce homegrown Perth Glory players who bleed purple and have a passion for the club and we’re in the process of doing that.
“They become saleable assets who are very valuable to the club and that process takes a bit of time, but we never want to make that just the focus because obviously the Members and fans are the ones who pay their hard-earned [cash] and they want to see results.
“That’s probably the hardest part of my job at the moment; just managing those expectations and also trying to pick a team every week that can go out there and get those points.”
In terms of early team news, meanwhile, Zadkovich confirmed that skipper Mustafa Amini’s knee injury will rule him out once again, but that Stefan Colakovski could come into the selection frame for the first time since Round One.
“We’re going to get through today’s session and have a look at it, but there may be a few changes,” he said.
“Mustafa was close this week, but he won’t quite make it and we don’t want to risk him either.
“With this break coming up, we’re going to use it as a good opportunity to build him up and get him right.
“He’s been a massive loss for us and he’s one we’re really looking forward to getting back after the break.
“Stef’s in contention.
“I think he’ll travel as long as he gets through training today.
“He had a little hip niggle last week.
“He’s another fantastic young prospect and it’ll be good to have him involved.”
Glory will face a City side which has won three of its four games so far this term, with Jamie Maclaren scoring five of their eight goals.
The historical omens for the visitors are encouraging, however, with the men in purple having lost on just one of their last 11 visits to AAMI Park.
Match Details
ISUZU UTE A-League 2022/23 Season Round 5
Melbourne City v Perth Glory
AAMI Park
Saturday 5 November 2022
Kick-off: 2pm WST (5pm Local Time)
Melbourne City FC squad: 1. Tom GLOVER (GK), 2. Scott GALLOWAY, 3. Scott JAMIESON (C), 4. Nuno REIS, 7. Mathew LECKIE, 8. Richard VAN DER VENNE, 9. Jamie MACLAREN, 13. Aiden O’NEILL, 14. Valon BERISHA, 15. Andrew NABBOUT, 16. Taras GOMULKA, 18. Jordon HALL, 22. Curtis GOOD, 23. Marco TILIO, 25. Callum TALBOT, 30. Luke ORESTI, 33. Matthew SUTTON (GK), 34. Arion SULEMANI, 36. Kerrin STOKES, 38. Jordan BOS.
In: 4. Nuno REIS (returns from injury), 30. Luke ORESTI (promoted), 34. Arion SULEMANI (promoted).
Out: 6. Thomas LAM (suspension).
Unavailable: 6. Thomas LAM (suspension), 10. Florin BERENGUER (hamstring).
Perth Glory squad: 33.Liam REDDY (gk), 3.Jacob DOWSE, 4.Luke BODNAR, 5.Mark BEEVERS (c), 6.Aaron MCENEFF, 7.Ryan WILLIAMS, 10.Salim KHELIFI, 11.Ben AZUBEL, 12.Luke IVANOVIC, 16.Keegan JELACIC, 18.David WILLIAMS, 19.Zach DUNCAN, 20.Giordano COLLI, 23.Mitch OXBORROW, 29.Daryl LACHMAN, 30.Pierce CLARK (gk), 36.Joseph FORDE, 37.Jacob MUIR, 43.Adam ZIMARINO, 77.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
Ins: 12.Luke IVANOVIC, 37.Jacob MUIR, 77.Stefan COLAKOVSKI
Outs: 2.John KOUTROUMBIS (injured)
Unavailable: 1.Brad JONES (gk) (injured), 2.John KOUTROUMBIS (injured), 8.Mustafa AMINI (injured), 13.Cameron COOK (injured), 21.Anthony BURKE-GILROY (injured), 22.Adrian SARDINERO (injured)
(picture courtesy of Estybs Photo)
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