Australia Cup: Perth Glory veteran David Williams enjoying new lease of life under new coach David Zdrilic
Perth Glory fan favourite David Williams has hailed the impact of new coach David Zdrilic in his first pre-season in charge and says his high-octane pressing game has boosted fitness levels.
The veteran striker is loving life in Zdrilic’s system and despite preparing to turn 37 years-old during the looming A-League season, he said he is not feeling his age.
The Glory and Williams will play their first game in Perth under Zdrilic in their Australia Cup Round of 32 clash with Melbourne City on Saturday evening at Sam Kerr Football Centre.
Williams starred in Perth’s Australia Cup play-off win over Brisbane Roar in late July, scoring once and assisting another in their 4-2 win in Darwin.
The popular forward, who has scored 10 goals across two seasons out west while mainly coming off the bench, said there was a positive atmosphere around the new-look team which boded well for the future.
“The dressing room vibes, the training ground vibe is actually really good and you also get that feeling when we are in team meetings and whatnot, around the training ground as well.
“It did set off from having success up in Darwin and playing that game, we’re kind of going in the right direction.
“We’ve had to kind of restart that as a club and as a changing room and start again, and I think we’re we’re doing quite well.”
With Zdrilic’s gegenpressing tactical philosophy demanding players press and defend high up the pitch, Williams said it had been a fun challenge in the off-season and one the entire playing group had taken to.
“There’s a lot of information to process, but I think we’re getting the most important things right at training and training isn’t the same as the game, so we’ve got to come out there on the weekend and show him,” he said.
“But also, we’ve got a point to prove to our fanbase and people coming to watch us on Saturday night what we we can do and what we’re about.
Camera IconDavid Williams shoots against Brisbane. Credit: Mark Brake/Getty Images
“At 36 now I’m still learning different ways to press and different ways to do things and that’s coming from Zdrilla and where he’s been as a coach and who he’s learned under and his style of of playing.
“Just as young boys coming in are learning a new system or learning a new way of playing, I’m still able to learn and get something out of it.”
Williams said the squad were fitter than they had been at the same stage last season and even as the oldest member of the squad, he felt in good nick.
“It’s a different way of training for us this season and we are a lot fitter at this point of pre-season than we were last year, but that just comes from everything in our sessions and how they’re designed,” he said.
“With the ambition of the players in the squad to forward press and go and go and go, that’s kind of what keeps us going mentally and sometimes if you can get your brain to keep going and going, then physically you’re just going to try and keep up.”
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