Melbourne Victory youngster Marco Rojas believes he has improved markedly since the arrival of coach Ange Postecoglou.
Melbourne Victory youngster Marco Rojas believes he has improved markedly since the arrival of coach Ange Postecoglou.
The 20-year-old attacker has promised so much for so long, but is only now starting to make an impression at Victory under his new mentor.
Rojas has scored two of Victory’s four goals this season and looks like a player high on confidence and ready to take his career to the next level.
The quietly spoken New Zealander said the off-season signing of Postecoglou had helped his game greatly and he feels the style of play employed under the veteran mentor suits his style of play.
“For me it is perfect as it is all along the ground football based,” Rojas said after a brisk training session at Goschs Paddock in Melbourne on Friday.
“I am very happy playing under Ange … and when you are happy you are always playing better.
“We are playing good football and because of my team-mates it allows me to get into a lot of space and that is probably why I am doing a bit better.”
While Rojas has been in fine form this season, he was guilty of missing two gilt-edged opportunities to score last week against the Jets.
Rojas was one-on-one against goalkeeper Mark Birighitti on two occasions during Victory’s 2-1 loss to the Jets on Saturday night, but failed to score at either attempt.
While disappointed not to continue his recent goalscoring streak against the Jets, Rojas said he will be ready to take his chance when the opportunity next arises.
“Last week it was the finishing (that cost Victory) and some of the stuff I did wasn’t good enough,” he said.
“We probably could have put the game away or at least scored a few in the first half.
“We were practicing out here (at training) and I will make sure that if I get in that position again, I won’t make the same mistake.”
Victory are gearing up to face Wellington Phoenix in a Monday night clash at Etihad Stadium where Rojas will be pitted against many of his fellow New Zealand internationals.
The game will also take on extra significance for Rojas given he spent two years at the Phoenix learning his craft under current boss Ricki Herbert.
But Rojas said he will prepare for the encounter in the same way that he does for any other match and that his sole focus was obtaining the three points for his side.
“I want to perform probably a little bit better against my old team-mates, but it is just like another normal game where we are aiming for the three points,” he said.
“Ricki is pretty good at keeping the national team from the club stuff so I don’t think there will be any problem there.
“So I will prepare for it like any other game and hopefully we get a few people there and we get a bit of an atmosphere going.”
