YOU’VE made huge changes in the off-season, not just players but a new coaching staff. What was the aim in that?

We started exploring options on a coach who could maybe help bring out the next part of our vision. That’s where it started, and we’ve made a lot of additions. That includes bringing Andres [Carrasco] in with a vision to evolve our game.

We had a lot of success but then the last six months [of last season] were difficult in the A-League. In some respects it was good that happened. There were reasons for it, and probably if we hadn’t had the schedule we had, it wouldn’t have shown up the need for the next part of vision to be stepped up right away.

No one will go through what we went through unless they win the Asian Champions League, that’s the reality. In year two we had an ACL campaign, came second and made the grand final. When you add winning the ACL, then going to the Club World Cup, then doing another ACL campaign — it’s almost a unique situation. But that brought out a few things that might not have been clear to me.

Having said that, does it annoy you when people like me concentrate on your A-League underperformance and not winning the ACL?

Maybe in 10 years you’ll look back on that, and then maybe everyone will appreciate what we have achieved. It gave all A-League teams a belief that it can be done. Everyone had in their minds that it was impossible to do — well we did it. The full extent of what we have achieved will not be known for a few years — maybe then it will be respected and appreciated for what it was.

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You’ve signed three players and a coach from Spain; if that’s a coincidence, what is the common thread?

It was a type of player we were looking to take the next step in our vision. We feel these players and the coaching staff fit that bill. We don’t want to be labelled as a team that has made all these changes, and is rebuilding. No, no. We’ve made these changes to challenge for the title again.

I don’t want a grace period of three years, or say we need time. We want to challenge, and these players were brought in to do that. We enjoyed success and what it tastes like, and we want to get back up there.

TIM CAHILL: Next move an eye opener.

What about Carrasco, your new assistant?

Andres was someone we came in contact with in the past 12 months, though initially not for a position. We got to know him, the relationship slowly built. We felt the connection was right.

I felt comfortable bringing him here — it’s a big step for him, coming here without his family, and it shows what he wants to achieve. He wants to be part of the Asian champions, that’s a big prize for him. He’s come to help us improve — we’ve shown him great respect, and he’s a fantastic man who’s fitted in really well.

media_camera Demitri Pestratos in action for the Western Sydney Wanderers

Due diligence on foreign signings can be challenging — are you concerned at how many clubs your new marquee, Frederico Piovacarri, has had?

It’s not easy to pick out players of a good age who score goals in good leagues, and just say, Come to Australia. We think we’ve done very well to bring in Frederico. He has had a lot of clubs, but it’s a similar situation we see with some Aussies, signing with a big club in Italy and constantly loaned out.

We liked the fact he’s an Italian who’s been open-minded to try different places, types of football, cultures and languages. He’s just spent 12 months playing in [La Liga], the best league in the world. I met him in Europe, and we felt very comfortable with his character and playing ability.

You signed a new deal in May, but what happens if a fantastic opportunity is offered to you next week?

I plan for today, tomorrow, a year, three years and five years at this club. Coaching is too unpredictable to be thinking of what if this or that happens. I’ve learnt to concentrate on what we can take care of, doing the best I can in pre-season and making us the best we can be once the league starts.

Thinking outside of that would take my mind off what I should be thinking about, and that’s not something I do.