‘Sore bodies': New Matildas coach making his mark

Yahoo

5 hours ago

Matildas coach Joe Montemurro says he's balancing building the next generation of world class players while still winning now and after two games in charge is adamant it's 'looking positive' he can do both.
Montemurro has seen a batch of his next-in-line talent through two games against Slovenia with more of his 33-player squad set to strut their stuff against Panama on Saturday in Bunbury in the absence of a host of first-choice players.
The intensity has been high during the new coach's first camp and he conceded there are a few 'sore bodies' as he tries to drill down his style of play in a short period of time.
'But we have to send that message to make this is the level we need to be training at and this is the level they need to take away from the national team,' Montemurro said.
'Everyone has been great, even with the integration of the young kids with a few of the more experienced players.
'We've seen a lot of talent and I'm looking forward to the next two games.'
Montemurro has made his name as a club coach at some of the world's biggest but transitioning to national duties means some adaptation from him as much as players, given the limited access to them.
But he's working out his system and hopes everyone involved in his first camp will take the right things away, and be better for them when they next link up.
'When you are working with players every day you can drop feed them messages and slowly add you r layers of building to where you want to go,' he said.
'When you have a short amount of time you've got to be a lot more clearer and more thoughtful with the messages when you are together and make sure they take home some ideas that we could bring back going forward.
'The biggest one is to give them some base principles they can take with them all the time and we can see their growth while they are not with us.'
When asked about exposing 'fringe' players during the four games with the likes of Sam Kerr and Mary Fowler unavailable, Montemurro was adamant there are 'no fringe players'.
'Everyone is up for an opportunity, it's really important to send that message,' he said.
'That's why this camp has been important, to look at some players but also put in some ideas and the more players we can have a look at, the better it has been.
'It';s now giving them the base things, the three or four key things that being a Matilda is, and giving them opportunities in real scenarios.
'It's been the [perfect camp for that.'