Aloisi challenges United to recover in ALM

Coach John Aloisi has challenged his Western United charges to move on from their 0-2 start and put their championship defence back on track.

United’s 3-1 loss to Sydney FC followed a 2-1 opening-round defeat to Melbourne City, with the reigning champions’ defence all at sea in both games.

“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 told reporters on Sunday.

“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.”

Making life more difficult is a suspected hamstring injury to Tongo Doumbia, while Aloisi has no set date on Aleksandar Prijovic’s return.

Aloisi confirmed Prijovic, who scored 13 goals in 27 games last season and won the Joe Marston Medal, was dealing with a chronic toe injury.

United’s defence was the cornerstone of their unlikely run to a maiden championship but Tomoki Imai’s injury and Leo Lacroix’s surprising tough start to the season has opened them up.

Josh Risdon and Ben Garuccio had their colours lowered by Sydney wingers Joe Lolley and Robert Mak on Sunday, and Aloisi admitted his defence needed to improve after two “uncharacteristic” efforts.

“It’s up to the boys and us to improve in that area because normally we don’t give those chances or opportunities away. Normally we’re a lot better,” Aloisi said.

“It’s up to them. I’ll take responsibility but they’re also out there to do it themselves.

“It’s easy to go hiding, it’s easy to go thinking it’s something else.

“But it’s out there (on the pitch) they can prove it and I’m pretty positive they will have a reaction for the next game and make sure they get it right.”

United have a chance to quickly move on when they face fellow expansion club Macarthur FC at AAMI Park on Friday night.