When Joel Chianese, the Perth Glory flanker, first played A- League for Sydney FC in the 2011/12
season, there was a buzz around Allianz Stadium that Head Coach, Viteslav Lavicka, had unknowingly chosen a player in the image of Frank Farina.

Blessed with blistering pace and a good eye for goal, Chianese was considered the “Next Big Thing”.
However, this great promise was curtailed by injury which has been an unfortunate feature of his
career.

Nevertheless, Chianese is approaching this year with a renewed sense of optimism and is
determined to prove to newly appointed coach, Tony Popovic, that he should be a permanent
fixture in the first eleven.

After signing a one year contract at the end of last season, Chianese wants to demonstrate he can
still play havoc with any defence and finally live up to the great reputation he commanded in his first
season with Sydney F.C.

In this interview with Roger Sleeman, Chianese discusses his career up to date, his views on Perth
Glory and his objectives for the new A- League season starting in October.

ROGER SLEEMAN

Can you outline the events surrounding your release from Sydney FC at the end of the 2013/14
season?

JOEL CHIANESE

I’d come off contract and Frank Farina who had coached me for two seasons, was also let go.
The club claimed it wasn’t in a position to offer me a new contract.

Additionally, I had been injury prone during the season and didn’t fulfil the expectations of the
previous year when I was scoring goals and played in the finals.

R.S.

What were your thoughts at the time?

J.C.

It was a strange feeling because I felt unwanted and doubted my ability to become a great player.
Also, because I didn’t have a club to move to, uncertainty crept in as to whether I would continue to
play at a high level.

I stopped playing for 4-5 weeks and with no A-League prospects imminent, Zelko Kalac suggested I
should play in the NPL and he assisted me to link up with Mark Rudan at Sydney United.

Mentally, I had to adjust to the semi-professional game but I enjoyed playing under Rudan for that
2014 NPL season.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 23: Joel Chianese of the Glory scores a goal during the A-League Elimination Final match between Melbourne City FC and the Perth Glory at AAMI Park on April 23, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

R.S.

What were the cicumstances surrounding your move to Malaysia in 2015?

J.C.

I’d moved to Bonnyrig at the start of the 2015 season and after playing a few matches, my agent
received a call from Mike Mulvey who was coaching Sabah in the Malaysian 2nd Division.

Scott Ollerenshaw worked with my agent to furnish an offer from the club so I acted quickly because
it was a good opportunity to play ninety minutes at a good level each week and allow me to bounce
back. I finished the season scoring seven goals in fourteen appearances.

R.S.
In December, 2015 you received an offer to play with Negeri Sembilan, coached by Gary Phillips.
Can you relate the experience and how did you rate Phillips as a coach?

J.C.

The club was an ambitious outfit and they employed Gary to lead their bid for promotion to the Ist
Division.

He also signed Andrew Nabbout, Taylor Regan and Alex Smith to boost the club’s stocks.

Gary was a positive coach to have around the training ground. This was critical in Malaysia because
you have to cater for the different ways of the local players and he was very good at controlling
them.

He also had high expectations of your performance and encouraged me in going forward with my
pace and isolating opponents one on one.

I scored ten goals in fifteen matches but was told after three months that my contract, along with
Andrew Nabbout’s, had been terminated, even though there were six months remaining.

The club told us they required more experienced players to clinch promotion and eventually we
reluctantly agreed on a settlement.

Gary Phillips supported us but in the end the club was determined to bring in two new foreigners
and we just had to accept the offer.

I remember Nabbout was particularly upset but he was fortunate to be signed by the Newcastle Jets
for the 2016/17 A- League season.

R.S.

How did your subsequent move to Perth Glory take place?

J.C.

I had been to Glory after leaving Sabah and they liked what they saw but there was only one spot
available due to the salary cap.

An offer was made but I decided to go to Negri with Gary Phillips.

Fortunately, after I returned to Australia, Glory put an offer on the table for the 2016/17 season
which I accepted.

R.S.

Your career has been marred by injury.

Can you explain the reasons?

J.C.

I’ve always looked after myself physically but I discovered when I moved to Glory, my hamstrings
and groins needed further development due to the strain from explosive runs and stop start action.

Also, when I left Sydney FC, I was going from club to club so I wasn’t getting full pre–season
preparation.

I really can’t pinpoint where I got the injuries so now I concentrate on hard work in the gym and can
see the benefits accruing.

However, even after my best pre-season last year, I was tackled on my right side, fell on my shoulder
and broke my collarbone. Despite the best preparation, these events can’t be prevented and the
injury put me out for three months.

R.S.

Can you comment on your Perth Glory move, and are you happy at the club?

J.C.

I didn’t know what to expect in my first season but it was satisfying to reach the playoffs, although
we were knocked out after eliminating Melbourne City.

When I missed the first three months last season, I played two ninety minute game and it was an
exciting and direct style.

Neil Kilkenny and Dino Djulbic were a great inspiration for me but in the end we underperformed
and conceded too many goals.

Also, going forward we struggled to finish consistently, despite getting into good positions in front of
goal.

R.S.

Does Diego Castro bring you into the play enough or do you feel he takes too many touches at
times?

J.C.

I feel he does work with me but you always want more of the ball to use your pace to go beyond
defenders.

Personally, I believe Castro should operate in a more central role so he can feed the ball to the flanks
and receive return balls closer to goal.

Hopefully, Tony Popovic will improve this situation and will bring out the very best in Castro for the
team as a whole.

R.S.

What was your opinion of Kenny Lowe as a coach, and did he treat you fairly?

J.C.

Lowe gave me my chance but he was good for some players who became too comfortable.

Hence, a culture emerged where complacency set in because certain players were guaranteed
selection.

Last season we conceded a couple of early goals in a few matches due to this complacency.

The post-match analysis needed improving as players weren’t advised directly how to correct their
errors.

When I came back from injury, I was taken off in a few matches when I was making an impact which
was disappointing.

Speed and directness are my greatest strengths and when I was linking with Scott Neville, we caused
great problems by drawing central defenders towards the flanks after we’d outpaced the full backs.

R.S.

You often appear to avoid physical confrontation when you could win the ball in tackles to your
advantage.

Can you explain this?

J.C.

I’m not a physical player but I’ve been doing a lot of work in the gym recently which will provide
extra strength in my upper body so I can hold off players more when I’m on the ball.

It will also give me more confidence to put my body into areas where I can win the ball more
regularly.

R.S.

With the appointment of Tony Popovic as the head coach of Perth Glory, how do you see your future
at the club?

J.C.

Popovic will bring his ideas to the club which is exactly what is required in the way of a new culture
and expectations.

His teams are always fit and well prepared and for me having a new coach, will give me the
opportunity to prove myself by performing in training and pre-season matches.

There is a large change of personnel at the club with the loss of established players like Taggart,
Andreu, Torres, and Mills while Wilson is undecided about his future.

All in all Popovic will have to fill eight positions so at least I’m a retained player.

I’m confident to back myself and set high goals for this coming season, barring injury.
Although it’s only a one year contract, I will do everything in my power to be selected every week in
Popovic’s first eleven.