Welcome to A-Leagues life, where KEEPUP brings you all the latest news and goings on at your club.
The 2022-23 Liberty A-League is fast approaching and there will be a new team in the mix when the season kicks off next month.
The new club? Western United and they ticked off another significant milestone ahead of their historic debut.
Luis Nani – he is Melbourne Victory’s marquee man and the face of the Isuzu UTE A-League. More importantly, the former Manchester United and Portugal star is loving life Down Under.
This is how the week is shaping up across the A-Leagues.
Western’s women hit the training pitch for the first time
Western United are the new team on the block in the A-League Women.
They are the 11th side in the competition on the back of Western’s Championship success in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
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And Western had a landmark day on Monday as the women’s team held their first ever training session, with Mark Torcaso’s side scheduled to make their ALW debut against defending champions Melbourne Victory at City Vista Recreation Reserve on November 19.
Nani’s All Access plug
Luis Nani has Premier League and UEFA Champions League medals on his trophy cabinet.
One of the most famous footballing names to play in the Isuzu UTE A-League opened his doors to the A-Leagues All Access film crew to document his arrival at Melbourne Victory, resulting in an engaging debut episode of the ground-breaking series.
After last week’s premiere episode, the European Championship-winning star showed off the start of his Australian adventure.
It’s a big week for Nani and Victory, who go head-to-head with rivals Melbourne City in Saturday’s blockbuster Derby after their shock loss to Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 2.
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Austin’s mission and Australia’s ‘iconic opportunity’
A-Leagues All Access is just getting warmed up and Brisbane Roar star Charlie Austin is the man at the centre of Episode 2 this week.
Behind-the-scenes with Austin airs on Thursday night but before that, the former Premier League striker spoke about his mission in the A-Leagues.
“To score plenty of goals. I think from where Brisbane were last year and to where they are now, they’re in a better place,” Austin told Neds of his ambitions in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
“So certainly help the team go up the table.”
Austin, whose Roar have lost their opening two games of the campaign and face unbeaten Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday, added: “I come to win. My job is to win. I’ve come to win and help the Roar go in the right direction.”
Austin, who previously played for the likes of QPR, Southampton and Burnley, is two games into his A-League Men career but the Englishman talked up the quality of the competition.
“I just say them, look, I don’t think it gets enough credit,” Austin said when asked what he tells his friends back home regarding the ALM.
“Everyone looks over here like, because it’s the third or fourth sport it kind of gets puts to the side.
“I just honestly say the younger lads here are far better than what people are told or people think they are.”
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Austin is Down Under at an exciting time, with the Socceroos gearing up for next month’s FIFA Men’s World Cup before Australia and New Zealand co-host the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“The A-League needs to be promoted. There’s no getting away from that. Australia have got an iconic opportunity now,” Austin said.
“They’ve got nine months, the Socceroos have qualified for the World cup and the Women’s World Cup is here next year in the summer. In that window, if you want any better opportunity to grow football as a country, then this is no better time to do it.”
Aloisi’s challenge to slumping champions
Western United’s title defence has not started as planned in the Isuzu UTE A-League.
Through two rounds, the defending champions have zero points following losses to Melbourne City and Sydney FC. They’ve also conceded five goals already – last season it took Western seven games to ship the same amount.
With Dwight Yorke’s Macarthur FC coming to town on Friday night, John Aloisi challenged his players to respond.
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“When you haven’t won a game yet, it’s only two rounds in, players can become anxious but they shouldn’t. They should just stick to the way we play our football,” Aloisi said.
“This is where we have to show how strong we are as a group because everyone talks about our culture and everyone knows about our culture.
“Well, now’s the time. So we can’t be too anxious. We can’t lose our way, we can’t start to look for excuses.
“Now is the best time to show what we’re made of and that will end up showing on the pitch if you keep on doing the right things and don’t panic.
“Teams have lost first two games of the season before and ended up going all the way and winning it.”
