Perth Glory's Rough Night Against AC Milan Raises Key Questions
The preseason is usually a time for testing new ideas, blooding young talent, and figuring out which tactical tweaks might actually work when the real action begins. But what happens when your team is handed a brutal 9-0 lesson by a European giant like AC Milan? That's exactly what Perth Glory endured in their July 31 friendly—a result that's almost impossible to ignore, no matter how many encouraging snippets you can muster from the highlights.
Yes, AC Milan turned on the style. Rafael Leão, Okafor, and Chukwueze were among the scorers, flexing the Italian club's attacking power in front of an eager Perth crowd. Milan even handed debuts to Ricci and the much-watched Modrić, underlining just how deep their squad runs. From the first whistle, it felt like a one-sided affair: Milan's crisp passing and relentless press left Glory scrambling for any sort of foothold in the match.
David Zdrilic's Off-Season Reality Check
David Zdrilic, Perth Glory's head coach, wasn't just left to pick up the pieces—he had to address one of the preseason's biggest talking points: how does a club build momentum and morale after such a heavy defeat? For Zdrilic, the setback couldn't be swept away with cliché talk about "learning experiences." After the match, he acknowledged just how stark the gap was between his rebuilding squad and a team lined with Champions League winners. "Games like this expose everything—your weaknesses, your strengths, and the exact places you need to grow," he admitted to local reporters. "It's tough, but honestly, it's the best way to see who can handle pressure."
No one expected Glory to outplay Milan, but Zdrilic insisted there's value to be found in such defeats. His focus? The mentality of his players. "You find out really quickly who's ready to keep fighting, even when things aren’t going your way. That's the kind of attitude we need if we're going to turn things around this season." After a rocky A-League campaign last year and a roster overhaul, internal resilience is something he wants to see from day one—win or lose.
The off-season for Glory has been all about rebuilding. Zdrilic had to oversee fresh signings and develop chemistry with a group that, on paper, still looks raw compared to most in the league. "We're not hiding from this," he stressed. "We have a lot of work to do, and we're using every test—no matter how hard—to get better." That 9-0 scoreline? It's a harsh reminder of the climb ahead, but it might just be the spark his players need to toughen up before the season starts in earnest.
In Perth, fans and pundits alike are now asking real questions about squad depth, defensive structure, and whether Zdrilic can coax the belief his team will need to pull off an underdog story. What's clear is that even a friendly against a club like AC Milan can shape the entire tone of an off-season—and leave no room for complacency in a team still looking for its new identity.