If someone’s demeanour and behaviour could sum up the mood within a squad, look no further than A-League All Stars Women head coach Joe Montemurro.
The A-Leagues legend was in a jovial mood as he fronted the media alongside Matildas and Brisbane Roar star Tameka Yallop on the eve of Friday’s blockbuster showdown against his former club, Women’s Super League (WSL) giants Arsenal, at Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
Montemurro shook the hands of every journalist inside AAMI Park before and after the press conference, stopped a press conference to warn one reporter that his recorder was not working, while he was all smiles as he prepares to reunite with Arsenal – the team he led to the WSL title in 2018-19.
The 54-year-old Melbournian, who guided Liberty A-League side Melbourne Victory to a second-placed finish in 2014, then crossed town to take charge of Melbourne City, where he won a Premiership and back-to-back Championships, also becoming the first manager to go through a full season undefeated, preached a specific message.
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“It’s all about the spectacle and it’s about putting them on a really important platform,” the former Arsenal and Juventus Women boss told reporters.
“For me, it’s really showcasing the Liberty A-League, it’s really showcasing that and that’s the most important thing and that’s been the tone all week. The players have made the week, they’ve gelled together and you know they’ve had a lot of fun and banter and a little bit of football in there. So we should be prepared for the game.”
There are many familiar faces in Montemurro’s All Stars side, but there are also some new names.
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Those fresh faces have left a lasting impression on the Australian, highlighting one area of the game Down Under.
“The ones I’ve never coached have very much impressed me and that to me is a really positive indication of where the league’s at because there’s obviously more games now. They’re in more professional environments,” he said.
“The base player is definitely a lot higher so and that’s fantastic. That’s something we all should be really working off.
“As I said, I know a couple of them have come through NPL programs, and have had the opportunity to play in the Liberty A-League.
“But the good thing about is that they’re getting more football, they’re getting more consistent football. And obviously, they’re now been able to do it in environments that are a little bit better.
“So you can just see that the base player coming through the league is, is a lot higher.”
The occasion of the first ever A-League All Stars Women match is not lost on Montemurro, who left Aussie shores for Arsenal in 2017.
Montemurro, who said he would be “honoured and privileged” to coach the Matildas one day, has gone on to enjoy great success, including an historic treble with Italian giants Juventus.
“That’s why it’s so special,” Montemurro said. “Because the league and and the development that’s me personally, has had through the through the local leagues, through the local development through the coaching courses and then been able to play to be able to coach in the in the league has been has been fantastic.
“From a personal perspective, I’m very honoured that I’m still remembered and considered and then the opportunity to work with you know, it was hard picking the squad because there was a lot of a lot of good players. It was really really difficult.
“But the opportunity to work with some players that you know, we’ve probably played It’s many, many times I’ve coached against many, many times it was was really, really special. “
As for Matildas great Yallop, she’s relishing the platform for Liberty A-League players to impress against one of the best teams in world football.
She said: “I think we’ve got a lot of experience in this All Stars team.
“We’ve got many players that have played abroad and come back to the Liberty A-League and played in the Matildas as well, and alongside some of the national (team) girls.
“I think we’re all excited to play against each other again, and, and it’ll be a very competitive match. And I think we’ve got, as Joe said, a good platform to show off some good football.”
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