Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight hails empahisis on possession under new coach Ante Milicic
Almost 800 passes later, the Matildas believe they have found the right man to lead them to Women’s World Cup glory.
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Almost 800 passes later, the Matildas believe they have found the right man to lead them to Women’s World Cup glory.
New coach Ante Milicic’s demand for possession-based football struck immediate gold on Thursday night in Australia’s 2-0 Cup of Nations win over New Zealand at Leichhardt Oval.
Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight can’t think of a better way to play football.
“We had somewhere between 700 and 800 passes against New Zealand, and that’s what we want - we want to have the ball and we want to keep the ball,” the 28-year-old midfield general said.
“We don’t want to play any type of transition-style football, and we don’t want to have the ball in the air.
“(The emphasis on possession) hasn’t necessarily been a key message in the past, whereas this is really a key message within the team (under Milicic).
“If you can have the ball for 70 per cent of the game, you’re having more fun.”
But whether the “fun” continues on Sunday when the Matildas meet South Korea at Suncorp Stadium could be the true test for the Milicic mantra.
The Koreans, who spanked Argentina 5-0 on Thursday night, won’t give Matildas nearly as much time in possession as New Zealand did.
“There’s no doubt they will be the toughest match here at this tournament. They’re one of the better Asian teams and it’s going to be definitely a step up compared to what we faced against New Zealand,” said Kellond-Knight ahead of the Matildas’ first match in Brisbane since April 2014.
“I don’t think New Zealand really put any pressure on the ball, so it allowed us to play our game. Korea’s going to be a different story where we’re going to get that pressure.
“It’s going to be a harder game.”
But these are the tests the Matildas and Milicic want as they work overtime to prepare for the June-July World Cup in France.
Gold Coast product Kellond-Knight, a veteran of 103 appearances for Australia, said the Matildas were building towards “something special” under Milicic, the man in the hot seat after January’s controversial sacking of previous coach Alen Stajcic.
“Ante has brought in some new intensity which I really appreciated, (and) a new level of professionalism too,” Kellond-Knight said.
“This is one of the most resilient groups I have been around. The focus in this team is at an all-time high. I think you can see that, how we have been able to bounce back from such big distractions off the field.
“When you take away the person that has been leading the ship, it can cause some turmoil, but I don’t feel like that has happened at all. I think the mood is really positive.”
“It shows you how mature the group is ... I’m proud of how the girls have reacted and responded.”
In Sunday’s early game, New Zealand meet Argentina in a battle of Thursday night’s losing teams.
Originally published as Matildas star Elise Kellond-Knight hails empahisis on possession under new coach Ante Milicic
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