Giovanni Savarese is relishing the early opportunity to lead Melbourne Victory into a competitive match.
The Boys in Blue, led by the new A-League Men’s Head Coach, will jet over the Bass Strait this weekend for a Hahn Australia Cup contest against Tasmanian NPL outfit Kingborough Lions United FC.
Victory, having overcome Victorian counterparts Caroline Springs George Cross in a pre-season fixture last Wednesday, return to action on Sunday, July 26, kick-off 5pm AEST.
At Kitchen Centre Park, they face competition newcomers, Kingborough, who qualified for the Round of 32 by winning the Milan Lakoseljac Cup last month, beating Devonport Strikers on penalties.
Speaking to MelbourneVictory.com.au, Savarese made clear that the tie’s timing – a handful of weeks into the Club’s pre-season schedule – should not have an overbearing impact on his team’s performance.
“You always start with your pre-season, and you start getting your ideas together the way you want to play that the players understand, and we are in the beginning phase of all that. But now we have competition, the Australia Cup, a very important competition for us.
“We know that these competitions are very complicated, delicate, because no matter who you play, the teams that you play against are going to give everything that they have. These are the big games for them, and we don’t expect anything but a tough match.
“Going to Tasmania, we’re prepared mentally to go there and give our best to try to make a very good run in this competition.”
There are two absentees from the squad for the trip to Tasmania. Denis Genreau is recovering from a viral infection, and he will continue to be monitored, whilst Nishan Velupillay is on post-World Cup leave.
Otherwise, it is a clean bill of health, and Savarese has nothing but praise for the players’ application since his arrival in Melbourne.
“It’s been very enjoyable to work with such a great group – players that come every morning to provide their best, to compete, to get better, to play for the Melbourne Victory logo and for the fans.
“I think what I’ve been surprised by is the work ethic of the entire team, the camaraderie, the willingness to want to get better. It’s been very refreshing in a very positive way, everything that I have seen so far from the group.”
