Perth Glory midfielder Adriano Pellegrino believes the club will be able to rapidly integrate its new players into the team ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season.
Perth Glory midfielder Adriano Pellegrino believes the club will be able to rapidly integrate its new players into the team ahead of the new Hyundai A-League season.
Having finished seventh in 2008/09, Coach Dave Mitchell has embarked on an ambitious pre-season recruiting drive that’s netted Socceroos Mile Sterjovski (Derby County) and Jacob Burns (Unirea Urziceni), along with former Blackburn captain Andy Todd (Derby County) and striker Branko Jelic (Energie Cottbus).
The club has also confirmed their interest in securing Socceroo defender Chris Coyne from Colchester United, allowing him to team up with brother Jamie after 13 years playing abroad.
While none of the recruits have yet to arrive in WA to train with their new team mates as yet, Pellegrino doesn’t believe they will have any trouble gelling with the rest of the squad when they do arrive in Perth.
“The new players are fit and well, they’ve been training with their club sides and with the Socceroos,” Pellegrino said.
“When they come in they’ve still got four or five weeks training before the season starts up and I think that’s ample time for them to come over and start playing.
“Those boys are experienced boys and they’ll guide us in the right way and with our coaching staff behind us, it will all fall into line very well,” he said.
Pellegrino said rather than playing down expectations of a maiden Hyundai A-League finals’ appearance this season, the players needed to embrace the pressure and thrive on it.
“You can just feel around town that the supporters are really looking for a big season,” Pellegrino said.
“There’s always expectation going into the season. Everyone knows that part of playing professional sport is the expectations to be successful and you thrive on it, so I just can’t wait for the season to get under way.”
The Glory kick starts their season on August 6 with an away clash against last year’s beaten grand finalist Adelaide United. Local fans can get an early slice of the action when Glory play two high profile clashes against English Premier League sides Wolverhampton (July 10) and Fulham (July 15) at Members Equity Stadium.
Perth Glory-s International ‘Football Feast-
Click here to buy tickets from www.ticketmaster.com.au or call 136 100.
Match details
Friday, 10 July 2009
Perth Glory v Wolverhampton Wanderers
Members Equity Stadium, 7.30pm
* A special celebrity match featuring former Glory greats and Perth celebs kicks-off at 6.10pm
Wednesday, 15 July 2009 – Double Header
Wolverhampton Wanderers v North Queensland Fury (kick-off 5.15pm)
Perth Glory v Fulham (kick-off 8.00pm)
Members Equity Stadium
