Wanderers looking to Barcelona for style inspiration

Western Sydney Wanderers attacker Mark Bridge indicated the A-League club has taken inspiration from the best in the business as it looks to adopt a more possession-based style.

Bridge

The Wanderers striker is adamant his new look side will be better next season Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

With a glut of players, including Iacopo La Rocca, Ante Covic, Jason Trifiro, Tomi Juric, Antony Golec, Nikita Rukavytsya, Kerem Bulut, Nick Ward, Nick Kalmar and Adrian Madaschi, leaving the A-League club, it is still not clear exactly who will be taking to the pitch for the Wanderers when the season begins.

Bridge hinted that it is a new arrival to the backroom staff that has already yielded a subtle difference to the way the players train.

Former Barcelona youth coach Andres Carrasco is one of three new additions - the others being goalkeeper coach Zeljko Kalac and assistant Hayden Foxe - and Bridge said he is already making a difference.

"There's been a couple of little things in terms of drills," Bridge said. "He's fitted in perfectly, and obviously he's a very smart man, looking at his CV.

"He's a good addition amnd I'm sure the boys are buzzing that he's on board.

"And Foxey and Spider are two quality people who know what it takes at the highest level."

Bridge said he hopes the Wanderers will be making more on-field signings in the coming weeks, with Scott Neville, Jacob Pepper, Andrew Redmayne and Scott Jamieson all linking up with the club. 

"It's been very eventful with players leaving and players coming in, it's been interesting," Bridge said.

"Popa keeps everything close to his chest. We often don't know who's coming in until I see them on the training paddock.

"But whoever we bring in is going to be quality, but we would hope there is still a few more coming in."

The Wanderers have played the role of new club almost in reverse.

After early success with back-to-back grand final appearances and, of course, their AFC Champions League (ACL) victory, expectations have been inflated in western Sydney.

Bridge said that while the distraction of the ACL played a major part in the Wanderers' domestic downfall last season, the players expect to have a better season in 2015-2016.

"From the inside, it was such a tough season, doing all that travel," Bridge said. "But Popa always aims as high as possible. It was a nightmare of a season for all involved.

"With just the one competition to concentrate on we want to do as well as we can and get back into the ACL."


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3 min read
Published 23 July 2015 3:16pm
Updated 23 July 2015 4:21pm
By Matthew Connellan
Source: SBS

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