What They Had to Say: A-League Coaches Share Insights on Round 25

Arthur Diles (Melbourne Victory):

“I felt we were exceptional, particularly during the first half. We didn’t deserve to be trailing and showed great resilience to equalise. Our intensity and pressure in the opening period were fantastic, and we went into the break in a positive frame of mind.

“We had chances to extend our lead to 3-1, but ultimately, we failed to close out the match and secure another goal, which unfortunately came back to haunt us. I believe we should have gained more points from our last two fixtures. The performance was commendable for large sections of the match, which is encouraging. Points should reflect good performances, and when they don’t, it’s tough to swallow. Nevertheless, we will regroup and go again.”

Mark Milligan (Newcastle Jets):

“In summary, we had a brief but chaotic five-minute stretch during the first half that cost us dearly. Overall, I felt we performed well for significant portions of the game, sticking to our identity and creating numerous quality chances.

“We had a prime opportunity at 1-0 to put them under real pressure with a second goal, but Lachy (Rose) was caught offside. There were moments when their counter-attacks caught us out, which we were aware they would attempt to exploit.”

“We were a bit loose in the first half but tightened up in the second. I’d be curious to know the last time a Victory team at home opted to switch to a back five to avoid defeat.”

Chris Greenacre (Wellington Phoenix):

“We were over the moon with the victory. It was crucial that we delivered a strong performance for the people of Christchurch who are passionate about their sport and football. We wanted to keep our aspirations alive, and if they’re taken out of our hands, we need to ensure competing teams put in the hard work to take it from us.

“We aim to finish the season on a high note, and that is in everyone’s best interest.

“I’m 100% proud of the team. They have stuck together even after facing significant criticism this season. They have shown grit and unity. Since I took on this role, I’ve seen a lot of talent in the squad, along with amazing young players coming through. I’m grateful to all the players for their commitment.”

Gary van Egmond (Western Sydney Wanderers):

“I thought it was an evenly matched game overall, with both teams taking their chances. Wellington capitalised on their opportunities while we could have been more resolute defensively, particularly for the two goals we conceded. Our set pieces were very effective, given their height advantage, but we could have performed better in open play.

“We had our opportunities, but sadly, we didn’t convert. At times, it’s about having enough conviction to go for the goal.

“You must match the motivation of the opposition, which can be tricky. However, I thought we were in control for large periods of the match, and it’s about what we missed in terms of the game’s outcome. That’s something this team must work on.”

Michael Valkanis (Brisbane Roar):

“Each week feels like a repeat press conference – it’s a match we should have clinched. By half-time, I felt we were in a good position, effectively nullifying their play and creating opportunities.

“I knew the opening 15 minutes of the second half were crucial. It has posed problems for us lately. Unfortunately, we conceded two quick goals in that timeframe due to inadequate defending on the left.

“City has an exceptional winger in (Marcus) Younis, who has been a game-changer for them this season. However, towards the end, we witnessed the future with the young players coming on, showcasing energy and resilience. We should have seized on the chances we had. This has been the recurring theme of this season – we’re not converting enough chances. It feels like the football gods aren’t shining on us right now.”

Aurelio Vidmar (Melbourne City):

“I’m very satisfied, particularly with how we rallied back. We started slowly, lacking control in the first half and failing to make the most of our good chances. Our execution of the final ball wasn’t up to scratch at that stage.

“As the game progressed, we began to assert ourselves, and given the clear-cut chances created, the result was just. The demands of the Champions League and balancing the A-League may have impacted us, but we’re starting to find our rhythm now that we’re a bit more rested. We have a strong attitude and senior players who are guiding the youngsters well. It’s easy to become complacent after winning four or five games in a row, but we’re responding positively.”

Patrick Kisnorbo (Sydney FC):

“I think we were sluggish in the first half, often second to the ball, and our final pass was off. The second half was a remarkable response. We played with more aggression and a positive mindset. At least I saw a reaction compared to the first half, and we will build on this for next week’s match.

“Since I’ve been here, we’ve aimed to be a little more innovative. We’ve improved with and without the ball and done some impressive things. Now, we need to start reaping rewards for our hard work.

“A clean sheet is always appreciated. I think we sometimes made it difficult for ourselves defensively, which is an area we need to address. It was a strong collective performance, which was great.”

Adam Griffiths (Perth Glory):

“I was pleased with our performance. However, we need to push ourselves more mentally to secure that goal. We had ample chances in the first half that deserved a tally. In the second half, I believe the travel may have affected the team. We must train harder and maintain our intensity for the full 90 minutes.

“We’ve won plenty of away games, and travel is part of the game. We simply must train harder and strive for more. It was a challenging match, yet I felt it was an entertaining fixture for a 0-0 draw. I’m proud of the players for their bravery and determination, but we need to push that extra bit further.

“We’ve been starting games fairly well. Aware of their physicality, I wanted our lads to dominate them. I felt we did in the first half, which helped us settle into the game. We just needed to carry that energy into the second half.”

Danny Hay (Auckland FC):

“I’m incredibly frustrated. I couldn’t fault the effort the boys put in compared to our last home match against Macarthur. They put in tremendous effort today but lacked those crucial moments of quality.

“It’s incredibly disappointing, considering what was at stake. The boys are disheartened as they know they exhausted themselves. We would have loved to have claimed back-to-back Premiers’ Plates.

“There’s a reason Steve Corica wasn’t on the bench; we’ve been exasperated with some of the decision-making quality we’ve been subjected to. The player who should have received a red card made key saves and crucial interceptions. Had he not been there, I’m nearly certain we would have clinched the win. Flip the situation, and we’d likely be discussing an Auckland FC player being sent off for misconduct.”

Warren Moon (Central Coast Mariners):

“While it may not have been the prettiest game, I believed we could secure a positive result. After last week’s disappointment, we delivered a commendable performance under tough conditions. I’m genuinely proud of the lads’ effort.

“We displayed our quality when it mattered, defending well and maintaining a compact formation.

“There has been considerable chatter leading into this match about aiding Auckland in their bid for the plate instead of Newcastle, and I found it slightly disrespectful to us and our achievements this season. We’ve approached all our games with the intent to win. It’s important to remember that the Mariners as a club have more trophies than Auckland and Newcastle Jets combined in A-League history. While we’re disappointed not to make the finals, our motivation remains unwavering, regardless of standings. It was business as usual for us to come in and get the job done.”

Airton Andrioli (Adelaide United):

“We all feel fortunate to be in our current position. At the season’s outset, many didn’t give us much of a chance, but we believe in our efforts. Our players have been developing together, growing stronger mentally. I’m extremely happy with our performance throughout the season.

“This was a tough game – Macarthur still had ambitions to qualify, and we started on the back foot. The players deserve immense credit for their belief in our daily work. We’re looking forward to facing Melbourne City next week. The next match is always the most crucial, and this one is no exception.

“Before the game, we told the boys it didn’t matter how we got the win today; we needed those three points to secure our position. We’ll head to Melbourne with a lot of confidence.”

Mile Sterjovski (Macarthur FC):

“We are determined to finish strong in front of our home crowd, so we’ll focus on next week. A good result is what we’re after.

“We have to acknowledge Adelaide’s prowess; they are a top team that plays quality football. That said, I thought we had a solid first half and had a few promising chances. The turning point was the foul against (Duke), which I don’t believe was justified. In my view, he won the header cleanly, and we could have surged forward. Instead, they received a free kick, and it led to their first goal.

“We know Adelaide’s strengths well, and I thought we did a good job nullifying them, but football is a 95-minute game. We needed to maintain our momentum. Adelaide came out strong and took advantage of the chances they created.”