Ange Postecoglou delighted with positive attitude on return to training.
Postecoglou was happy with the way his players looked after themselves during their down time but held special praise for their early approach to what will be a marathon pre-season regime.
“We-re really happy with the way they-ve come back,” he said.
“They-ve all come back in really good condition, they-ve looked after themselves but most importantly, they-ve come back with a good attitude.
“Right from the first day of training, they-ve been ready to get stuck back into it.
“The quality of our training has been really good and it just means we start well ahead of where we started last year.”
With over five months before the next Hyundai A-League season is due to kick-off, the Brisbane boss said his squad-s positivity would play a large role in their bid to improve as a playing group during the off-season.
“It is a long pre-season but it gives us an opportunity to improve all aspects of our play, both as individuals and as a team,” Postecoglou said.
“Your attitude and how you address it is the most important thing
“If you look at it as one long grind, you won-t get a lot out of it but if you see it as an opportunity to improve then I think it-s a fantastic opportunity for everyone – coaches, players, staff – to really get some meaningful work done.
“I think that-s what drives the group and I think that-s why they-ve come back in such good condition – they don-t want to get left behind, they want to keep improving as players and the only way they-ll do that is if they have right sort of attitude.”
Not all of his players are back on deck just yet and with Qantas Young Socceroos, Qantas Olyroos and Qantas Socceroos duties falling over the coming months, Postecoglou admitted his early preparations for next season would be a little disjointed but had no qualms about the situation.
“By the end of the next two or three week cycle, we should have everyone back which will be good,” he said.
“We will have some international commitments disrupt us a little bit but at least the players will be in quality environments.
“Matt Jurman should be free of his Sydney commitments soon as well so it means we-ll have the majority of the group together soon which is important.”
German midfielder Thomas Broich and Brazilian winger Henrique will both return from their homelands next week while goalkeeper Michael Theoklitos will arrive back in Brisbane the following week after his honeymoon.
