Catherine Cannuli is hoping a fresh perspective after coaching her last match from home will deliver Western Sydney Wanderers their first win of the Liberty A-League season.
Cannuli had to isolate last week and was giving instructions from home, with assistant coach Sergio Malfara running the team in their spirited 0-0 draw with rivals Sydney FC on Monday.
But it will be business as normal for the Wanderers’ New Year’s Day clash with Canberra United, and Cannuli believes the experience of watching the draw from home had given her a fresh outlook on her team’s performance.
“It’s been challenging,” she said of her period in isolation. “It’s part of life and we’ve got to get on with it with the right mindset.
“I’ve still been able to coach from home, I had a live link into the game and had access to people through headsets.
“It’s been surprisingly streamline, the whole process. They put me on a big screen to communicate with the girls through Zoom and all of the previews and reviews are done by computer anyway.
“It felt different to watch the game that way and I think I saw the game in a different light.
“The tactical footage is different to the normal TV footage and I probably saw the game from a different perspective rather than watching it from the ground.
“I think from round one to now I can see massive improvements, I’m pleased with the attitudes they’ve shown on the pitch.
“I think we are building every week, it comes down to confidence and now it’s about getting that first win under our belts.”
Cannuli’s side are winless to start the season but aside from a 2-0 defeat to Sydney FC prior to Christmas, have been disciplined and well organised in defence.
The match with Canberra, who are also yet to secure a win this campaign, has been shifted to the club’s Wanderers Football Park facility following the cancellation of the A-League Men’s side’s clash with Western United due to positive COVID-19 cases at both clubs.
Cannuli believes the move could prove advantageous if the Wanderers are to pick up their first win of the season.
“It’s more of a boutique stadium and the crowd really gets behind us,” she said.
“We train there regularly and it’s home for us and it’s very comfortable.
“We’re looking forward to bringing them to Wanderers Football Park and keeping three points at home.”
