Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
New Western Sydney skipper Brandon Borrello has vowed the Wanderers will embrace the “pressure” of rising from wooden spooners to A-League title contenders.
Borrello was announced as the club’s official captain on Friday night, taking over from goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas, who will remain part of a six-man leadership group that also includes vice-captains Alex Gersbach and German Ferreyra, as well as Jarrod Carluccio and Anthony Pantazopoulos.
“We’ve spoken a lot as a group about what we want to be this season,” Borrello said in a letter to Wanderers members.
“Not just where we want to finish, but what we want people to see when they watch us play.
“We want to be a team that works, a team that competes, a team that looks after each other and doesn’t take a backwards step when things get difficult.
“It’s not about pretending there’s no pressure or no fear. It’s about being willing to step into those moments anyway, to want the big game, to want the responsibility, to stand up when the
game is on the line and trust the bloke next to you to do the same.”
Wanderers coach Ufuk Talay said Socceroo Borrello, who has worn the captain’s armband in the past, led “through the way he competes”.
“He has a strong personality, he demands a lot from himself and he is not afraid to demand the same from the people around him,” Talay said.
“He wants responsibility and he understands what this club means to the people of Western Sydney, but leadership cannot come from one person.
“Alex, German, Lawrence, Jarrod and Anthony all bring different qualities to the group and together we believe they give us the balance we need.”
“You need different types of leaders within a dressing-room. There are going to be different moments throughout a season where different personalities need to step forward.”
Under new coach Talay and Borrello, the Wanderers – who meet arch-rivals Sydney FC in next Friday night’s season-opening derby at Allianz Stadium – are intent on redemption after finishing bottom of the ladder in a disastrous 2025-26 campaign.
“We’ll compete for every ball, every metre and every moment. We’ll hold each other accountable and we’ll keep pushing each other to be better,” Borrello said.
The selection of the leadership group included input from Western Sydney’s squad as part of a “broader process” led by the club’s football department.
Wanderers football Director Mal Impiombato said: “This group will be entrusted with driving a high-performance culture, reinforcing the standards and behaviours expected across the club, and leading in a manner that reflects the values, identity and responsibility that come with representing the Western Sydney Wanderers and our community.
“We want to build a team that is brave, accountable and prepared to compete for everything. This is a leadership group we believe is equipped to drive those standards throughout the season.”
