Perth Glory Embark on New Era Under Zdrilic

Perth Glory’s highly anticipated A-League opener against Macarthur FC is shaping up to be a defining moment for the club as it steps into a bold new chapter under the stewardship of head coach David Zdrilic. With the prospect of several debutants in the squad, Glory will face a Macarthur side buoyed by their Australia Cup triumph last month.

Zdrilic, who has been tasked with rejuvenating the club’s identity, is optimistic about the progress made during pre-season. “I’ve loved every minute of the challenge of totally recreating the club’s identity and culture,” said Zdrilic. “This new philosophy is a big change, and you’ll see that during the season. The players have embraced it, and it’s been very effective so far.”

The former Sydney FC star also acknowledged the logistical challenges the team has faced during their pre-season preparations, particularly the lack of game time due to their location in Western Australia. However, he remains confident that the adjustments will pay off on matchday. “We’ve had our challenges just being in WA and not getting as many games, but in the ones we’ve played, I think we’ve been very positive.”

A Tough Test Against Australia Cup Winners

Facing Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium, Zdrilic expects a fierce contest from the Australia Cup holders. “I expect a very confident team after winning the Cup. They’ll be well-prepared and in a positive mindset,” he said. “In the A-League, no game is easy, so we’ll approach every match knowing it’ll be tough, but our mentality is to win.”

Victory on Sunday would mark Glory’s first-ever away win against the Bulls and, if they manage to keep a clean sheet, the club would celebrate their 100th A-League shutout.

Squad Updates and Injuries

Perth will be missing key players, including Mustafa Amini, Nicholas Pennington, and Nathanael Blair, all out due to injury. Meanwhile, Macarthur FC will be without former Glory player Chris Ikonomidis and midfielder Bernardo, also sidelined through injury.

The Bulls have bolstered their squad over the off-season with notable additions, including Belgium U-21 international Dino Arslanagic, seasoned A-League veteran Luke Brattan, and Croatian winger Marin Jakolis. Their attacking threat will be crucial as both sides aim to set the tone for the season.

Last season’s meetings between the two clubs were high-scoring affairs, with the teams sharing a 2-2 draw in New South Wales, followed by a 3-2 Perth Glory win at HBF Park.

Match Details:

•   Fixture: Macarthur FC vs Perth Glory
•   Competition: Isuzu UTE A-League 2024/25 Season, Round 1
•   Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
•   Date: Sunday, 20 October 2024
•   Kick-off: 1 pm WST (4 pm Local)
•   Referee: Ben Abraham

Macarthur FC Squad:

•   Key Players: Dino Arslanagic, Luke Brattan, Marin Jakolis
•   Unavailable: Chris Ikonomidis, Bernardo

Perth Glory Squad:

•   Key Players: Adam Taggart, Oli Sail, Nikola Mileusnic
•   Unavailable: Mustafa Amini, Nicholas Pennington, Nathanael Blair

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Tags: Perth Glory, Macarthur FC, A-League 2024/25, David Zdrilic, Australia Cup, Football News, Australian Soccer, Campbelltown Stadium