Melbourne Victory caretaker head coach Arthur Diles said the club are actively looking to replace Japan-bound Socceroo Jason Geria.
“Apart from what he offers on the field, you know, he’s one of the best right full-backs in this country,” said Diles, when asked how challenging it will be to replace Geria in the side.
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“The quality he provides this team in the change room and off the field is unquestionable, and that’s part of the loss as well.
“It’s not just what you lose on the field, (it’s) the person that you lose off it. The influence and the impact he has on the club, the fans, the individuals in the team. He will be missed, not just by our club, but by the league as well.”
Whilst it may be nearly impossible to find a like-for-like replacement for the Subway Socceroos defender, Diles confirmed the club are now undergoing an extensive search to bolster their defence.
“Yeah, we’ll look at the market, definitely,” he said. “We’ll look at what’s out there, what’s available, and what fits this team and this club, not just in the short term, but in the long term as well.
“It’s not just about filling a void for four months. You know, we need to bring a player in, if we do that, that’s going to complement the group moving forward.”
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He added: “But first, we’ll look from within and in the academy. And if we’ve got something there, great. If we feel that something’s not ready yet and we have to look outside of that, then we’ll work for those options as well.”
With attention turning to Geria’s farewell match on Friday night, Diles believes his team will need to be on their guard when they come up against a Western side who are coming into the contest having been beaten 2-0 by Melbourne City on Tuesday night.
“Definitely a reaction and a bounce back for sure,” said Diles when asked what he’s expecting to see from his opponents.
“You know, they’re a good team. They’re well coached, and we’ll be ready for that, but so are we.
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“We’re ready to put our front foot forward and continue to progress as a team. So come tomorrow night, we’ll both be ready, I’m sure.”
Diles will be hoping the game against Western United will also see him clinch his first win as Victory boss, having registered three draws and a defeat since taking over from former head coach Patrick Kisnorbo.
However, despite being in the hot seat for four games without a win, Diles said he’s not feeling the pressure.
“It’s not about being comfortable in this role. For me. I think you got to be uncomfortable. I think comfort can also bring complacency as well,” he told reporters.
“So for me, I don’t want to feel comfortable. I want to know that there’s always something to do and always something (that) needs to be better.
“It’s been a tricky couple of weeks because of the turnaround and the situation, but I’ve enjoyed it and and the team’s progressing nicely, and want to keep progressing.”
With just one win in their last five matches, Victory are currently fourth on the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder, four points behind Auckland FC in top spot.
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