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Glory coach Stajcic cops ALM sideline ban on the chin

3 minute read

Alen Stajcic says he has full confidence his assistant Nahuel Arrarte will thrive as Perth's stand-in coach for their A-League Men clash with Western United.

ALEN STAJCIC.
ALEN STAJCIC. Picture: Mark Kolbe/Getty Images

Suspended Perth Glory coach Alen Stajcic has full faith his team can win without him this week, saying there'll still be a "crazy man" yelling at them from the sidelines.

Stajcic will have to watch Saturday night's A-League Men clash with Western Untied at Mars Stadium, Ballarat from the crowd after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season in last week's 0-0 draw with Wellington.

It means Nahuel Arrarte, who has been a long-time assistant under Stajcic, will take the reins for this week's match.

"Our preparation has just gone as normal. There'll be one crazy man yelling at them on the sideline instead of another," Stajcic said on Thursday.

"Nothing will really change beforehand and during the game and all our processes are usually in place during the week anyway. Match day is just the icing on top of the cake.

"It's a bit disappointing not being there, but I'll still be in the grandstand watching.

"Everyone's knows their role and that doesn't happen on match day, that happens over the course of pre-season and every training session.

"It's almost irrelevant who is there on match day."

Arrarte has worked under Stajcic at the Matildas, the Philippines women's national team, and also Central Coast.

"There's a lot of tension in that relationship in terms of us always pushing each other and trying to find ways of doing things better, and it's always evolved," Stajcic said.

"He's been extremely experienced in that role and he's certainly been on the sideline with me for a long time and been the head coach a few times as well.

"I've got 100 per cent confidence he can do as good a job, if not probably better.

"It'll be like a walk in the park for him."

Glory are still without injured co-captain Mark Beevers (knee), while Mustafa Amini and Johnny Koutroumbis are only slight chances to return.

Perth's six-match unbeaten run has moved them up to ninth on the ladder, seven points adrift of sixth spot.

Western United are dead last with just three wins and three draws from 18 matches.

"They've been a touch unlucky," Stajcic said of John Aloisi's United.

"Obviously you make your own luck as well at times and they're in the same boat we were, where they often give up a soft goal here or there.

"But in terms of gameplay, they're as good as any team in the competition."

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