At 35 years of age, Besart Berisha is winding back the clock in the 2020/21 A-League campaign.
In his second coming to the A-League, the Western United striker continues to remind all who write him off of his ruthless prowess as an expert marksman.
Speaking to Robbie Cornthwaite and Daniel Garb on the ABC Grandstand Football Podcast, Berisha revealed what he’s done to ensure his longevity in the league, as well as discussing the ‘big hope for Australian football’ he has seen develop throughout an entertaining opening 10 Matchweeks in the 2020/21 campaign.
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Berisha: youth uprising what Australian football needs
“You can see the new generation, everybody wants to play this game. More talents are coming and choosing (football), and I feel even the game is getting better and better.”
In an A-League season brimming with action, drama and a raft of memorable matchups, it’s safe to say Berisha’s Western United have contributed more than their fair share.
Berisha has scored five goals in his last three games as part of a Green and Black outfit often engaging in fixtures packed with entertainment. A 3-2 loss to Central Coast Mariners and wins over Perth Glory (5-4), Macarthur FC (4-1) and Melbourne Victory (4-3) have highlighted United’s top fixtures throughout the season to date.
Berisha admits he’s enjoyed not only his own side’s fixtures, but watching a ‘beautiful’ A-League campaign unfold with fixtures across the league in which rising stars continue to relish their chance to shine.
“This is what football in Australia needs,” Berisha said.
“I’m so, so happy that the football this year, especially this year, is so beautiful to watch, and that’s what we need.
“I feel like it comes definitely also because a lot of young players get the opportunity and they’re shining, and the game gets even more interesting, and that’s amazing.
I’m happy the new generation is coming up and they’re doing well… and that’s a big hope for Australian football.
You can see the new generation, everybody wants to play this game. More talents are coming and choosing (football), and I feel even the game is getting better and better.
“Everybody is happy because (there are) a lot of beautiful games around the weeks, and that’s great.
“A lot of new talents are coming out and they’re producing and bringing good football, especially this year it’s just great to watch every game.
“There’s a lot of goals, a lot of great games and personally I’m super, super happy that it is this way.”
But while Berisha marvels at the up-and-coming prospects causing mayhem in the 2020/21 campaign, the young players can look to Berisha for inspiration of their own.
The seasoned veteran is showing no sign of slowing down as he continues to net goals in consistent regularity. The 35-year-old puts his unbelievable consistency down to a work ethic which he attempts to raise as each season passes.
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https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235905777001
“I don’t hide that I’m getting older, absolutely no problem, I accept this,” he said.
“One thing is I just feel like I’m getting more experienced.
“I’m more calm, I spend a lot of time of course in the training park because I have to work harder, it’s just the truth.
“When you get older you have to work harder, it’s simple. When you’re young you just work, you don’t need to go in the gym, you don’t need to spend (many) hours but when you get older, I spend every day now in the gym, I have to work harder.
“But that’s good, I’m enjoying it, I always say however long my body feels good and I’m okay I am happy to keep going.
For me I don’t say I want to stop playing, I just want to keep going.
The key is hard work, (no matter) how old you get you just have to work harder.”
MW10 REPORT: Western Sydney Wanderers 0-2 Melbourne City
Captain’s display from Mauk helps Reds fire back at critics
“Every time he hasn’t played they’ve looked second-best.”
Adelaide United midfielder Stefan Mauk has raised plenty of eyebrows this season, but Robbie Cornthwaite believes the Reds captain is beginning to let his football do the talking.
Mauk scored a well-taken goal in Adelaide’s 3-2 win over Western Sydney Wanderers in Matchweek 10. He created a team-high four chances, won six duels and two of three tackles in a gutsy 90-minute shift which caught the eye of ex-Reds defender Cornthwaite.
“We can talk again about Mo Toure and (Pacifique) Niyongabire (who) was fantastic when he came on as well,” Cornthwaite said.
But Stefan Mauk as the skipper of Adelaide United, I think some of the comments he’s made in the games have overshadowed how good he’s been. Every time he hasn’t played they’ve looked second-best.
“The goals he’s been scoring, he’s not that creative number 10 but he certainly knows how to get in the box and score, so well done to him.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235893122001
Mauk’s third goal of the campaign helped Adelaide to a huge win on the road. It’s the Reds’ second win in a row following a three-game losing streak which helped Carl Veart’s side steady the ship and finish Matchweek 10 in fifth place on the A-League table.
“Adelaide made it two in a row on Saturday afternoon, Robbie, after knocking off Western Sydney 3-2 away,” Garb said.
“It was a thrilling game as well, (and) it’s a big setback for the Wanderers. They were seven undefeated going into that one, and everything was building seemingly in a nice way.
“An Adelaide team who had been struggling rolled them for their first away win of the season – it’s a big moment for the Reds wasn’t it?”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6235900275001
“Despite the fact they conceded two goals I thought defensively they looked a lot better,” Cornthwaite replied.
“They were desperate against Macarthur (a 4-0 loss) but just didn’t have the structure or the shape.
“But I thought their performance was a really good one.
“Craig Goodwin couldn’t have asked for a better return to his hometown club. Came in and scored on the one-minute mark, and that was the start Adelaide really, really needed to give them the confidence to go on in that game.”
MW10 REPORT: Perth Glory 1-2 Central Coast Mariners
Macarthur mature in gutsy win over Sky Blues
“That was a more mature performance from Macarthur. They were rolled by Western United, smashed in their last game, and they were far more circumspect in defence. You could tell they had recognised that issue, and managed to really adjust in a positive way.”
Macarthur FC’s contrasting performances in two derby fixtures against Sydney FC throughout the first 10 Matchweeks of the 2020/21 season have shown proof of a side maturing throughout the club’s inaugural A-League campaign.
The Bulls clinched a 1-0 win over the Sky Blues on Sunday afternoon, who dropped to ten men after Paulo Retre’s first-half red card at Nestrata Jubilee Stadium – much like Macarthur did when Mark Milligan was dismissed in the early stages of the first meeting between the sides in Matchweek 6.
Macarthur preserved their one-goal advantage earned just minutes before Retre’s dismissal through the second half and to the full-time whistle. The Bulls rode their luck at times, and Adam Federici pulled off some big saves, but the hard-earned three points helped Macarthur move to outright second on the A-League table – a mature response to a 4-1 defeat to Western United in Matchweek 9.
“A Macarthur team that has been up and down produced a big win,” Garb said.
“They were helped of course because Sydney (went) down to ten men, but the back-to-back Champions who were building drop points against a rival.
“That was a more mature performance from Macarthur. They were rolled by Western United, smashed in their last game, and they were far more circumspect in defence.
“You could tell they had recognised that issue, and managed to really adjust in a positive way.”
https://players.brightcove.net/5519514571001/default_default/index.html?videoId=6236068272001
Garb continued: “To be honest (Sydney) should have been 2-0 up, they had great opportunities.
“Patrick Wood, (Kosta) Barbarouses, Retre himself, Federici pulls off a couple of massive save.
“That’s football, you get caught by a very good team the other way, you lose a man and then a team that matured, a team with Mark Milligan at the back organising things, with Ante Milicic recognising the issue, and they were able to stabilise and hold off Sydney FC in a really disciplined way.
“(Sydney) ran into a good side and failed to take their opportunities themselves. They’ll be fine, they’ll be right up there of course but I think the story out of that is Macarthur.”