Australia Cup: Perth Glory midfielder Brandon O’Neill glowing with praise for new coach David Zdrilic

Perth Glory midfielder Brandon O’Neill says new A-League Men’s coach David Zdrilic has been a breath of fresh air as his arrival has coincided with an Australia Cup resurgence. The Glory will have their sights set on a spot in the last eight for the first time since 2016 when they take on NPL Queensland outfit Moreton City Excelsior in Brisbane on Wednesday night. After wins over fellow A-League sides Brisbane Roar and Melbourne City pushed Perth into the round of 16 after eight years without a single win in the competition, Zdrilic has won acclaim from fans for winning his first two competitive fixtures. O’Neill, who has returned to the club for a third stint, said Zdrilic had made his impact felt immediately, with his gegenpressing tactical style quickly winning over players. “He’s really taken the club by storm. He is the sort of person that you listen very deeply with, because he has a very specific way of doing things,” he said. “I’ve definitely been able to learn a hell of a lot already, and approaching my football in a totally different outlook to what I’ve done previously, it’s been a very refreshing way of playing. “In my 15 years of getting ready for professional football, it’s very refreshing to have a different outlook on the way you go about it.” Moreton City are second in NPL Queensland, but while on paper they will be the weakest side Perth have played in their cup run, O’Neill said the message had been to show them the same level of respect they would an A-League side. “You approach it the same way - it’s a cup game, it’s a competitive match, you put two and two together, and you go out there and you win,” he said. “Secondly, you go out there and you win in a certain way and from day one, we’ve been coached, trained and taught to play a Perth Glory brand of football that we’re trying to implement down at the club. “We want to win playing that way, our style and our own identity being at the forefront of what we’re going to try do Wednesday night.” Glory midfielder Mustafa Amini is still on the sidelines, while left-backs Riley Warland and Belgian import Anas Hamzaoui were restricted to running duties at training on Friday. O’Neill said he could sense the excitement and anticipation from fans during their win over Melbourne City at the Sam Kerr Football Centre. “It’s important, especially in pre-season, staying alive in the Australia Cup and going as deep into that competition as you can, just to make sure that pre-season flows in a competitive way,” he said. “The last one against Melbourne City, it was enthralling, we came out with the wind and I think the fans were able to see a lot of the good stuff, and a lot of what we want to do down at the club this coming season. “From the players to the coach and staff to everyone at the club, it felt like a marker in the sand of who we want to be at Perth Glory and what we want to bring.”