Awer Mabil spoke to the media at Mrs Macquarie's Chair as Australia continue its preparations for its two matches against Ecuador in Sydney and Melbourne.
The 27-year-old is currently plying his trade with Sparta Prague on-loan from Cadiz after a move in January and discussed building momentum with Graham Arnold continuing at the helm and the
See what the winger had to say below.
Mabil on Graham Arnold re-signing and a new cycle...
We can see what Arnie has done, last cycle we broke some world record and it's something we'll look back on when we retire and also a good step for us to do again. We know what is required to qualify for the World Cup and for us we want to make it more simpler than last time. I think it was very stressful, for everyone, for our country. So as a player to go through that it was not easy. But at the same time, we we had that belief that we'll find a way to get to the World Cup. And it's amazing to have Arnie for the next cycle starting now and it's just going to be magical because we've achieved a lot and still a lot to be achieved. So that's in the past now and the new cycle is going to be amazing.
Mabil on the competition for places...
it's even better because then I can improve so if there's pressure on me I love that because you know I love to learn I love to grow and you know to have many players in your position it's something that's amazing and it's something that's good for the team and for the nation to have good players in every single position and Arnie has created that. So for me it's to get to work and for everybody else it's to make sure they produce when they have the chance. So for me I'm never worried about competition, it's only something that will make me better and I love challenges.