Perth Glory coach Dave Mitchell has emphasised the need for his players to work effectively as a team in Sunday’s clash with Wellington.
After a demoralising 3-0 loss to Queensland last weekend that left the Perth club propping up the rest of the Hyundai A-League table, Mitchell said the most important thing to come out of a major review was that players needed to help out their team-mates and ensure any mistakes were not exploited by the opposition.
And, with everyone from the players, to the coaches and even the owners putting their two bobs in, Mitchell felt the review had paved the way for an improved performance against the Phoenix in what is shaping as a critical game for the winless Glory.
“It was a good response from the players and the coaching staff,” said Mitchell after training on Friday.
“(We found) players being overly exposed sometimes in one on one situations, just with players covering for each other.”
“Rather than being individuals, we have to be more of a team, that’s what we want.”
“(But) goals happen, you’ve got, the best players in the world can concede goals and the best goalkeepers. It’s just a point of, if I make a mistake, I want my mate to cover for me and that hasn’t been happening.”
“I think it comes down to a confidence thing and that’s something we’ll try to rectify,” he said.
Mitchell said he wouldn’t be making sweeping changes to the side from last week, although he acknowledged the absence of injured Brazilian playmaker Amaral would be difficult to cover.
New recruit Wayne Srhoj, fresh from several seasons in Romania where he helped Politehnica Timisoara secure a UEFA Cup position this season, appears to be the likely replacement for Amaral, although Argentine forward Adrian Trinidad could also possibly fill this role after playing up front for the Glory during the opening three matches.
Last season’s top goal scorer Jamie Harnwell has also been included in the squad after returning from a hip injury, although Mitchell said Harnwell would probably be used as a centre back to shore up a leaky defence that has lost its concentration at times this season and conceded 12 goals in four matches so far.
