Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell believes Simon Colosimo’s move to Sydney FC was a positive for both the club and player.
Speaking ahead of the Glory’s first clash with Sydney this weekend, Mitchell said there would be no ill-feeling between his players and their former skipper, who moved to the Sky Blues at the end of last season after a frustrating 2007-08 with Perth.
“Simon’s a good player, he wanted to leave and I think it was best he left,” Mitchell said.
“He was stale at the Perth Glory and I think he wasn’t performing to his best capabilities.”
“I think going to Sydney is a fresh start for him. He wanted to play in front of the national coach (Pim Verbeek), so it was a win-win for Perth Glory and Simon Colosimo, so there’s no ill feeling there at all.”
“(The players) they’re all friends with Simon (as well). He was here for four years and there’s no ill feeling with Simon Colosimo leaving the club, however you want to portray that,” he said.
The Glory, however, will be going into the weekend’s third round of the Hyundai A-League without their two best defenders in Hayden Foxe and David Tarka.
Former Socceroo Foxe is still recovering from foot soreness and looks likely to miss at least the next two matches, while Tarka’s thigh injury has not improved as well as expected, sidelining for another week.
The club will also be missing Naum Sekulovski (hamstring) and James Robinson (stomach) as they take on a Sydney side that could be bolstered by the return of marquee striker John Aloisi.
But Mitchell believes Sydney could be in for a torrid time keeping up with the Glory’s imported players, after Adrian Trinidad and Amaral outplayed Newcastle’s midfield in last weekend’s 3-3 draw, as Eugene Dadi chipped in with a contender for Goal of the Season.
“I think a lot of people said we had signed some obscure signings and I think, well after last week I hope they’re eating their words,” said Mitchell. “They’re three quality players we’ve brought in.”
“Good luck to Sydney, they’re in a position where they’ve got … a lot of recruits, of good players, Australian players, so it’s fortunate for them.”
“(But) it doesn’t matter who we play, we want to win or do well,” he said.
