Why Matildas coach Joe Montemurro chose them, and his Asian Cup plan for glory

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On-field talent including Kerr, Catley, Carpenter and Foord are complemented by the appointment of a new video analyst, James Slaveski, who has been a data and scouting guru for A-League clubs and Football Australia, and conditioning expert Emanuele Chiappero, who worked with Montemurro in France and Italy, and will be the key figure keeping the Matildas in top physical shape. The players joined Montemurro and his new coaching staff for the first time in Perth in June for a win and a draw against Slovenia, and two games against Panama in July. We go behind the dressing-room doors to meet the team behind Montemurro’s Matildas. ‘It’s just a natural psyche for footballers that they want to have the ball … you’ve got to control the game without the ball.’ Joe Montemurro Joe Palatsides, assistant coach with ‘tactical nous’ Montemurro looked to proven lieutenants led by Palatsides, whom he has known since they were young men playing together at Brunswick Juventus in Melbourne’s north. Funnily enough, neither is going by Joe in camp. Players call Montemurro by his nickname, “Pep”, (short for Giuseppe) and Palatsides by “Pala”.

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The pair linked up as coaches when both were at Melbourne City, and Palatsides was reunited with Montemurro when he took over at French powerhouse Lyon last season before following him back home. “He was a very good coach back then at Melbourne City but he’s gone to another level since he’s been involved with these great teams in Europe,” Palatsides tells this masthead from Perth. “When I saw Joe go to Arsenal, I was wondering how he’s going to go?” says Palatsides, who has also worked as technical director for Football Victoria and is known for his tactical nous. Behind the Matildas: Leanne Hall, Emanuele Chiappero, Joe Palatsides, head coach Joe Montemurro, Tony Franken and Emily Husband. Credit: Getty Images “People don’t rate Australian coaches that highly over there but I think that’s changed now with Ange Postecoglou and others. Then you see Joe and what he’s done since then – in the women’s game, I would think he’s considered in the top three coaches in the world. “He could have been in line for every job in the world but he’s chosen the Matildas, and he’s proud of that fact.” Palatsides, a former Socceroo, relishes the chance to again don the green and gold, even if it is the coaching polo shirt.

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“Pulling on that Socceroos jumper gave me goose bumps but I didn’t realise how special this was until I got here, talked to the girls and coaches, and that buzz goes through you,” Palatsides says. “I’m excited for what the future holds.” The video analyst informing Joe Montemurro’s Matildas’ strategy Former Young Socceroos football analyst James Slaveski will use footage of matches and training sessions to break down the team’s performance into smaller parts. A key part of a video analyst’s job is to identify areas of strength and weakness in individual player performances and overarching team strategy, as well as help coaching staff develop tactics to address those and improve. Another aspect of Slaveski’s job, however, is reviewing footage of an opponent’s matches and developing strategies to exploit that team’s weaknesses and bolster the Matildas’ defensive and offensive tactics against the opponent’s strengths. Emily Husband, assistant coach with comeback cred The UK-born defensive whiz played youth football for Leeds United and Manchester City before moving to the American college system. She is fresh from steering Central Coast Mariners to claim the A-League Women’s title, in just their second season back in the competition, 13 years after the team’s financial collapse. Before joining the Mariners two years ago, Husband had not coached professionally. She recently told this masthead she had initially turned down the A-League job, thinking she wasn’t ready.

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Loading That was despite a dominant record as coach of Sydney University in the NPL NSW league. Husband explains she will play a key role in the Matildas’ defensive game. “Pep loves to have the ball and that’s his mantra but I’m quite the opposite,” Husband says. “I think about the defensive side of the game. We all see the game differently and that’s why we are a good group.” Leanne Hall, set piece coach in charge of ‘defining moments’ The former England goalkeeper has been an assistant manager with both Arsenal, where she worked with Montemurro, and Aston Villa women. She says Montemurro is a transformative coach. His Melbourne City sides dominated the A-League Women in a way few teams have, while at Arsenal, his possession style was different to every team. Once he led the Gunners to the English Women’s Super League title, other teams copied it.

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