Macarthur ‘looked like a basketball team’ against Jets, says Milicic

Ante Milicic will urge Macarthur FC to return to their footballing principles after the new boys held on to beat Newcastle Jets 2-1 in Sunday’s breathless A-League clash.

The A-League debutants showed off their attacking swagger to put Newcastle to the sword through Loic Puyo and Matt Derbyshire’s first half goals but the Bulls found themselves on the ropes for much of the second following Valentino Yuel’s reply for Jets on the stroke of half time. 

While pleased with the resilience his side demonstrated in the second half, former Westfield Matildas coach Milicic believed his charges abandoned their principles in a 45-minute spell he suggested is the antithesis of how he wants Macarthur to play.

“We just stopped playing in the second half,” he told FOX Sports. We went long every time, we couldn’t win the second ball.

READ: Derbyshire scores as Macarthur FC edge Jets and hit summit

“We looked more like a basketball team than a footballing team. And when we go away from what we’re strong at we struggled. 

“They did well to get the result but in the end we need to get better and play our football for longer periods of the game.”

Milicic added: “We know we’re capable of playing. When we really execute the things that we talk about and train for we look a good footballing side.

“But then there’s that other part that we need to get better at.

“We don’t want to be a team that starts hanging on to results too often. We need to be better.”

The victory in the Hunter Valley sends Macarthur top of the A-League table after their four matches played, although second-placed Central Coast Mariners will return to pole position by avoiding defeat against Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday.

Macarthur

READ: Wanderers boss Robinson lauds ‘exceptional’ academy gem
READ: Rudan blames himself for Western United’s derby collapse

Next matches

Newcastle Jets v Brisbane Roar
Matchweek 4
Wednesday, 20 January 2021
Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium
Kick off: 7.05pm AEDT
Match Centre

Macarthur FC v Sydney FC
Matchweek 6
Sunday, 31 January 2021
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium
Kick off: 6.00pm
Match Centre

Ways to watch

Download the MyFootball Live App now
ABC TV
Sign up for Kayo Sports
Get Foxtel

SQUAD TRACKER: All players signed for A-League 2020/21 Season