New Sydney club coach Tony Popovic faces an uphill battle to get his team ready, but he is still setting some lofty goals.
New Sydney club coach Tony Popovic is learning on his feet as he attempts to put his squad together with Executive Chairman Lyall Gorman for the next Hyundai A-League season.
With many current A-League stars already tied up with other clubs, just how Popovic will build his playing roster is obviously of great interest, but he says he is settling in well.
“The biggest challenge so far has been finding players first and foremost, and dealing with agents, then attempting to get the right back room staff in place to help build the club,” Popovic said.
“So far I have thoroughly enjoyed the challenge with Lyall of putting a team of staff and players together. It-s been a learning experience and one that I'm enjoying.”
While finding players might not be an easy task, Popovic it appears wouldn-t have it any other way than difficult and is setting some lofty goals for the club upon their entry into a league that he believes has gotten infinitely better since he left in 2009 to take up the role of Assistant Manager at Crystal Palace.
“While I was here I saw a real improvement in how players became fitter throughout the A-League. They gained a better understanding of what it takes to be an elite athlete, but in the last 15 months, since I have been away there has also been a real improvement in players and teams- tactical awareness which as a whole has improved the standard of football being played,” he said.
So what is his goal for the first five years of the club?
“In five years we certainly aim to be one of the most consistent and successful clubs in the A-League both on and off the park.”
That-s one goal that could solely depend on how will the initial recruitment goes, for the sake of Popovic and the club, it would be nice to see it go well.