by Ben Gilby (5/2/25)
Above: Tijan McKenna speaking to the media at Perth Glory’s Fremantle HQ yesterday. Image: Perth Glory.
Perth Glory’s Young Matildas midfielder Tijan McKenna believes that one of the keys to the team picking up three points will be maintaining focus and attention to detail.
Speaking ahead of Friday’s trip to Adelaide United, McKenna said: “We start well, we do everything we’re supposed to do. I guess it’s (now) switching on for the second half or crucial moments…a set play, or halftime. But we definitely have the engine, creativity, and confidence to do it for a full 90.”
Perth’s season has been hampered by a seemingly never-ending injury list, with the majority of those struck down being the team’s key creative players. Whilst so far the 20-year-old has avoided the jinx, it has meant that it has been extremely tough to build up a regular partnership around the centre of the park. That has been something she admits has been a challenge.
“It’s definitely frustrating with like having a main three and then someone gets injured, someone else comes in. They have worked for their spot, and I think it’s a gelling time. In training, step by step we get stronger, and then each game we progress.”
Perth’s game with Adelaide this week brings back memories of the team’s brightest performance of the campaign, a 3-1 home win over the Reds in Round Six. Reflecting on how that result was achieved, McKenna once more emphasised the importance of focus and staying on task.
“We definitely knuckled down on what we had to do, and we followed Stephen (Peters, head coach) and his protocols. Our desire and well-being that we had going into it was definitely way better than other games that we’ve gone into.”
The Glory players have spoken all season long about how the belief and confidence given to them by head coach Peters remains strong despite all the injury-related hurdles placed in front of them.
With that 90 minute laser-like focus that McKenna mentioned in this media conference added to the belief installed by their impressive win over Adelaide earlier in the campaign, there is no reason why the Western Australians cannot return from their shortest away trip of the campaign with points.
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