Jim Magilton cut an enthusiastic figure after several days working with the Melbourne Victory squad ahead of Friday’s Hyundai A-League showdown with Adelaide United.
Jim Magilton cut an enthusiastic figure after several days working with the Melbourne Victory squad ahead of Friday’s Hyundai A-League showdown with Adelaide United.
Magilton arrived in Australia early Saturday, in time to see Victory run out 2-1 winners in their match at home to Newcastle Jets.
The former Northern Ireland international has now had the chance to get involved with the players, and the 42-year-old likes what he has seen.
“I think training’s been sharp,” Magilton said.
“There’s been a great tempo to it and they’ve all been very responsive.”
“You can’t re-create the wheel. All you do is just keep giving them confidence.”
“You build on last week. There were a lot of good things from last week that I saw. One or two things that we’ve implemented this week.”
“I like to play a passing brand of football, that’s going to take a little bit of time to establish here.”
“But all in all, the tempo in training’s been high, and the quality’s been very good, which is what you’d expect with the players that we have. So, I’ve enjoyed it. A really good week.”
Victory will be going up against an Adelaide United team who are unbeaten in four games, with two wins and two draws since John Kosmina returned to the club as manager in December.
“Let’s hope I have the same sort of impact,” Magilton said ahead of his first match in charge at AAMI Park.
“New manager coming in, freshens things up maybe, gets them in a shape that they’re all comfortable playing in.”
“Yeah, it’s going to be a tough game. They’re four undefeated and we’ve got to understand that they’ve got real capabilities in their team.”
“We’re going to withstand that and come out with our own.”
While Magilton is encouraged by the promise his new charges have shown, he also offered a reminder that genuine improvement is unlikely to happen instantly, and asked for time to get his message across.
“Communication’s very important in this,” he said.
“I have a way of delivering, they’re going to take a bit of time to understand that I suppose.”
“That’s part and parcel of the job.”
“I want to give them the confidence to go and play. And that’s not going to happen overnight. It’s going to take a little bit of time.”
“It’s day-by-day, it’s week-by-week, and it’s constantly working them and encouraging them to do what I want them to do.”
According to Magilton, Adrian Leijer has been involved in training this week as he continues to recover from a groin strain, but the Victory captain must still pass a fitness test if he is to be involved on Friday.
