Sebastian Pasquali is relishing getting a full pre-season under his belt with Western United after completing his injury rehabilitation.
The midfielder missed the entirety of the 2021/22 season after undergoing groin surgery but has returned to the fold ahead of the upcoming campaign and is feeling better than ever.
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“I’m feeling as good as I have in a while. I’m super rapt to be out there with the boys from day one of pre-season this year,” he said.
“Training’s been great, energy levels have been super high, and we’re building something really strong for the season.”
Pasquali made it back onto the pitch in a match scenario with the first-team last month
“It was great, I honestly felt like I added a bit of my old personality back into me. I’m starting to feel like a footballer again being able to play, and it’s given me a big confidence boost in myself and my body,” Pasquali said.
“The boys and the coaches and the whole Club have supported me the whole way, so it was a testament to all that work that I got back out there, and it’s the beginning of, hopefully, something big for this season.”
The former Ajax youth player hadn’t had the chance to properly work under John Aloisi having missed the boss’ opening season, but Pasquali is already feeling the benefit of training under the Socceroos legend.
“I love coming to training every day, that says enough in itself. I look forward to training every day, because I know it’s at a very high level and it’s designed so that everyone improves every day,” he said.
“The coaches put so much into each and every one of us and I already feel like I’m a better player than I was before the injury. It’s super exciting to work with these coaches and this group of players.”
Sebastian Pasquali adds to Western United’s midfield competition
Pasquali’s return comes at the perfect time for Western United, with the side’s midfield stocks looking incredibly strong heading into the new season.
The arrivals of Tongo Doumbia and James Troisi along with Rhys Bozinovski’s emergence in the first-team and the returns of Pasquali and Alessandro Diamanti later on in the season give the Green and Black’s midfield a formidable look.
Pasquali said competition for places across the pitch will be vital as the team seeks to defend it’s a-League Men Championship and is using it as motivation to achieve his own personal goals.
“I’d love to be a starting XI player this year and work my way into that, and help contribute to the team,” he said.
Still at just 22 years of age, Pasquali is confident he has significant room to grow and hopes to achieve that in Green and Black this season.
“I believe strongly that my best football is ahead of me,” he said.
“I’ve had a tough few years, I’ve found it really hard to get my body right, but the body’s agreeing at the moment and I’m just really enjoying playing football again.”
Pasquali and his teammates continue to prepare for the 2022/23 Isuzu UTE A-League Men season, which will kick off on October 7 with a blockbuster Grand Final rematch against Melbourne City.
