Mike Mulvey hailed the fighting spirit of his Roar side after another come from behind win to seal a third Hyundai A-League Championship on Sunday.
Mike Mulvey hailed the fighting spirit of his Roar side after another come from behind win to seal a third Hyundai A-League Championship on Sunday.
After going behind against Western Sydney Wanderers through a second half Matt Spiranovic header, Roar stormed back to equalise in regulation time before Henrique won it in extra time 2-1.
“This club has in its DNA,” Mulvey said of the club-s fighting spirit after winning its third Championship on Sunday night.
Like the other two championship wins, Roar came fought back and take the trophy
“I was never in doubt,” a jubilant Mulvey said.
“They have this spirit within them. Built up through the years they-ve been together. This is some achievement by this club.”
For the most part of the first half the Wanderers famed pressing game pinned back Roar.
But at 0-0 the game was still anyone-s, as Mulvey emphasised.
“What I said at half-time was we-ve built a platform to win this game because we withheld what they-d given us.”
Mulvey agreed with his opposite number Tony Popovic that the injury to Wanderers- Nikolai Topor-Stanley – resulting in a reshuffle which saw influential midfielder Iacopo La Roca move from central midfield to central defence – was a key game-changer.
“We recognised this as a pivotal moment He [La Rocca] doesn-t normally play in that position so there was a bit of a pendulum swing And we took advantage of it.”
Meanwhile, star striker Thomas Broich added his tributes to departing striker Besart Berisha describing him as a “warrior”.
“He hasn-t dropped his intensity one bit since it was announced he-d signed for Melbourne Victory,” said the German maestro.
And Mulvey was equally effusive about Broich.
“First and foremost he-s an unbelievable man. He-s humble and driven, which I can say about a lot of our squad.
“But for him to rediscover his love of football which he-s done in this country, but then produce the quality he has, we-re very, very fortunate.”
Broich won the Joe Marston medal for best on ground in the grand final, an accolade he was given with Wanderers- Iacopo La Rocca, with both polling the same number of votes.
“He-s right up there with the best – if not the best – import we-ve ever had,” added Mulvey when quizzed on Broich-s career in the A-League.
“And the best thing about him is, he wants to get better.
“And today he was the architect who delivered the ball that got us back in the game.
“And that was crucial.”
