aleagues.com.au wraps up all the pre-weekend media activity across the Isuzu UTE A-League with a mouth-watering Melbourne Derby to come, plus first play third in a bumper Round 17.
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Rivals ready for ‘crazy’ Derby but star striker remains a doubt
The Melbourne Derby is always one of the most anticipated fixtures on the A-Leagues calendar but this weekend’s edition will feel a little different given a certain global superstar is also performing in Melbourne.
But first things first, let’s talk football.
Victory boss Tony Popovic has provided a key injury update on striker Bruno Fornaroli, revealing the Socceroos forward underwent surgery this week to correct a hand issue meaning the club will make a late decision regarding his participation on the clash.
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“He did hurt his hand,” said Popovic. “So he’s had a procedure on his hand in terms of a hairline fracture.
“We’re just waiting for that wound to heal but we think he’s a chance.
“He’s working it’s just we have been avoiding contact. You know, if he can handle contact then there’s no reason why he can’t play.”
Popovic also believes it isn’t necessary for Fornaroli to wear a protective cast in order to lead the line for Victory in the derby, revealing the striker has now had a metal plate fitted in his hand.
“It’s not that we fear re-fracturing, it’s more that the wound heals from the procedure. The re-fracturing is not a problem, he’s got a plate so that will be nice and strong!
“We’ve just got to make sure that the wound is healed, that there’s no threat of infection. So we’ve got to do the right thing by him. If that’s ok then he’ll be ready.”
With the hard-hitting questions out the way, Popovic was then asked for his take on the impact Taylor Swift’s concert at the MCG would have on proceedings at AAMI Park.
“I’m sure our fans will try and drown out the noise that goes on across the road!”
Meanwhile, Victory midfielder Ryan Teague didn’t escape the Tay-Tay questions either.
“I heard she was coming to town,” he said. “I don’t know how hectic it’s going to get but I’m assuming it’s going to get pretty crazy.”
While a sell-out crowd is expected at the MCG for Taylor Swift’s concert, fans will also be flocking to AAMI Park to witness the second derby of the season, as Victory look to bounce back after suffering their first loss of the season last time out, a 1-0 defeat to Macarthur FC.
“There’s always a bit more spite,” said Teague. “I don’t try to let it affect me but I’m not going to kid myself, you get a little bit of extra motivation especially with the fans coming out who play such an important role.
“Hopefully we go out there, do them proud and do ourselves proud.”
More then 25,000 supporters filled AAMI Park for the first Melbourne Derby of the season, a game which also represented Teague’s first experience of the fixture. However he admits playing in front of such a big crowd wasn’t something that fazed him having already played in a marquee fixture before.
“I played in a friendly against PSG when I was a bit younger,” recalled Teague when asked about playing in packed stadia.
“Mbappe ended up getting a few more fans than that but this was up there!”
As for the home side, Aurelio Vidmar’s Melbourne City head into the contest off the back of a 5-1 dismantling at the hands of Brisbane Roar – a result which made it four losses from the three-time reigning premier’s last five games.
“Quite a difficult last month to be honest,” reflected Vidmar at his pre-game media conference. “But there should be no complacency in terms of motivation for a game like this.”
City’s form slump has seen them drop down the table into seventh spot, leaving them two points outside the finals places, and they now face a run of matches against five of the current top six.
However, Vidmar believes a fixture like this represents the perfect chance to lay down a marker for the remainder of the season.
“If you look at the table they would certainly be clear favourites – that probably hasn’t happened for a number of years I’d say.
“Derbies all over the world it doesn’t matter where they are, who’s top or someones bottom or wherever they’re placed on the ladder. It is a derby it’s going to be fiercely contested and that’s how it should be.
“It’s just been a bit of a crazy year in terms of teams beating everyone. When you think someones going to win the game and it doesn’t happen…
“When you think you’re going to be further down the track, then teams above you lose and drop points. Absolute crazy season.”
Arguably a driving factor behind City’s poor run has been the form of star striker Jamie Maclaren. A vital cog in the City system, the five-time Golden Boot winner has now gone six games without a goal but Vidmar believes his leading man will soon be back to his old self.
“Everyone knows Jamie well, he’s a confidence player,” said Vidmar. “He’s a confident guy. Eventually he’s going to have to bounce back.”
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Football aside, Vidmar also couldn’t escape his media conference without the now obligatory question: Is he a Swiftie?
“I prefer to go and watch Matchbox Twenty!”
Melbourne City coach Aurelio Vidmar on whether he’s a Taylor Swift fan…
That settles that then.
Youstin had a problem but Chiefy set to hand Salas his debut
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Wellington Phoenix boss Giancarlo Italiano has teased new signing Youstin Salas could be in line to make his debut against Macarthur, as first meet third on Sunday.
Despite signing for the club in late January, the Costa Rican international is yet to feature for the ‘Nix, with Italiano confirming he was carrying a slight injury, however the Phoenix head coach has now earmarked Sunday’s clash with Macarthur as the right time to give him his first minutes.
“I don’t think he’s ready at the moment for 90 (minutes),” revealed Italiano. “His last game was on the 21st of January in Costa Rica and he had a strain in his quad.
“We monitored that from that date and his expected return to play is actually sooner than we had thought which is positive. But to put him through 90 at the moment would be too much.
“As well, in terms of acclimatising to the group and so on, I think it would just be unrealistic, but I’m hoping we got some minutes off the bench from him.”
Having dispatched bottom side Western United 2-0 in Round 16, leaders Wellington now face a tough task on Sunday when they travel to Campbelltown Sports Stadium to face third-placed Macarthur.
“In terms of personnel I think they have one of the best squads in the league.
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano on Macarthur FC
“Uli (Davila) you know I’m a big fan of, I think he’s potentially one of the best 10’s in the league, a Johnny Warren Medallist. (Valere) Germain up top is a very good player, obviously Clayton (Lewis) a quality six.
“A lot of those players get them through their games and get their results. Even last week against Victory they defended, I thought, very well.
“I think it will be a match where I think it won’t be decided early – it will be a bit of a grind between both teams.”
While both sides are currently enjoying seven-game unbeaten runs, the ‘Nix will certainly travel to Sydney’s south confident of walking away with all three points having dispatched their opponents 3-0 in the same fixture earlier on in the campaign – a result which also ended Macarthur’s seven-game unbeaten streak to start the season.
Sky Blues dealt Wood blow after difficult weekend
A 3-1 away win over Central Coast Mariners was certainly a memorable result for Sydney FC in Round 16 but it came at a cost.
Despite putting in a good shift at Industree Group Stadium striker Patrick Wood’s game was judged on a gilt-edged chance he missed in the first half, a moment which has subsequently seen him receive abuse via social media.
“The group has got around him quite good,” said Sydney head coach Ufuk Talay. “I had a chat with him this morning again. People forget that he’s still 21, he’s still very young and these moments are going to happen, it won’t be the first and it won’t be the last.
“Obviously some comments and some messages that have been sent to him have been quite disgraceful to be honest.”
To make matters for both club and player, Talay also revealed Wood had been playing through the pain barrier in order to help the team but has now aggravated a lingering foot issue which could put him out of action until the back end of the season.
“What they don’t see is the side where he’s had a stress fracture in his ankle for quite a few weeks and he’s been playing through it with the pain,” he said.
“Unfortunately he’s made it worse in this game and now we’ll lose Patty for possibly twelve weeks.
“The players always wear their hearts on their sleeve and they want to do their best for the club and the fans, the supports and all the sponsors as well that partake in the competition as well.”
Sydney host Adelaide United in Round 17 where a win over the Reds could see them leapfrog rivals Western Sydney Wanderers and into fifth place.
Zadkovich ignoring the ladder ahead of tricky Perth reunion
Acting Brisbane Roar head coach Ruben Zadkovich said the thought of playing finals football hasn’t really crossed his mind as he prepares his side for a tricky away trip to Perth.
After picking up four points from their last two games the Roar now find themselves just two points outside the top six, however Zadkovich admits it’s more important to work in the here and now rather than look too far ahead.
“The playing group, they know what they’re capable of,” said Zadkovich at his pre-match press conference. “I don’t think their belief ever wavered I just think there was a part in the season there where we lost out structure and lost our processes.
“I’m not really looking at the top six, I’m not really looking at the table to be honest. I said it last week, it’s a bit of a cliche but one game at a time for me at the moment.
“Really focusing on getting to know my players, getting to know my staff and making sure we prepare as best we can.”
The next assignment for Zadkovich and Co. is one that will certainly resonate with the acting head coach; an away trip to face his former side Perth Glory, for whom he was a player and a coach.
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“They’re very good at home,” reflected Zadkovich when discussing his old side.
“Perth is place where the fans get behind their team when they’re doing well and at the moment they’re in good form.
“I expect them (the fans) to be like the extra man for them but the focus is on us. I keep saying it to the group, there are areas that we can improve.
“I’m a big stickler for the detail so I’ve been trying to impart as much as I can on the boys in a short period of time, make sure that we’re organised and structured and that our processes are sound.
“The attitude and the mentality from the group is strong which is always a good indication of a good performance.”
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