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A host of fresh faces at Western Sydney has coach Tony Popovic feeling like he’s back preparing for the club’s first A-League campaign in 2012.
And at least one of his players admits it’s going to be tough for the new-look pack to gel in time for their Asian Champions League (ACL) quarter-final next month.
The Wanderers lost three of their biggest stars in the off-season, with Shinji Ono returning to Japan, Youssouf Hersi defecting to Perth Glory and Aaron Mooy joining Melbourne City.
In their place has come ex-Dutch international Romeo Castelen, Brazilian Vitor Saba, and Australians Brendan Hamill and goalkeeper Dean Bouzanis.
Popovic has also revamped his coaching team, promoting youth coach Trevor Morgan to senior team assistant alongside new recruit Ian Crook.
A new CEO – John Tsatsimas – was also installed after the franchise was sold to a business consortium last month.
“It’s a little similar to year one – there’s a lot of staff changes, a lot of player changes,” Popovic said.
“We have new faces coming in, and we’ve still got a few to come.
“So it’ll take them a bit of time to get used to a different climate, a different culture, a different way of life.
“But we’re sure once they all settle in, they’ll really enjoy being here in Sydney and also being with the Wanderers.”
Popovic said Castelen was due to arrive in Australia on Tuesday night, ahead of the Wanderers’ first FFA Cup match against Adelaide City on August 12.
It’s going to be a busy few weeks for the club, who take on Chinese powerhouse Guangzhou Evergrande at Parramatta Stadium on August 20 before their away ACL leg a week later.
Star striker Tomi Juric said while the team had been putting in the effort on the training paddock, he expressed some concern about how quickly things needed to work.
“It’s definitely going to be a challenge for us to gel together in time for the ACL,” he said.
“We’re working hard on the field, so that come the ACL game against Guangzhou we’re prepared.
“But it’s a big start to the season, it’ll be very important to get off on the right foot and get a good result at home against them.”
The Wanderers will be without Socceroos defender Matthew Spiranovic for at least the next 10 weeks after undergoing ankle surgery on Monday.
Popovic said the operation went “very well”.
“Now it’s just a recovery phase for him, and I’m sure he’ll be back bigger and better once he heals from the injury,” the manager said.
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