Western United head coach John Aloisi recalled his prior meeting with Juan Mata ahead of Western Sydney Wanderers’ trip to Tarneit on Sunday afternoon.
Aloisi’s Western will welcome FIFA World Cup and UEFA Champions League-winning superstar Mata and his Wanderers teammates to Ironbark Fields in Round 2 of the Isuzu UTE A-League season.
Mata made his eagerly-anticipated Wanderers debut in their 2-1 derby defeat to Sydney FC last week – going up against Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa at CommBank Stadium.
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As the former Spain, Chelsea and Manchester United attacker prepares to visit Melbourne’s West, Aloisi spoke of playing against the 36-year-old.
Aloisi was plying his trade for Deportivo Alaves in Spain’s second tier as Mata was emerging in Real Madrid’s youth team – Real Madrid Castilla – during the 2006-07.
“It’s great to have him in the league,” the Australian legend told reporters on Thursday. “I loved him as a player.
“I actually played against him when I was at Alaves, my last year in Spain. I was in the second division and Real Madrid B were in there. It was one of his first games for Real Madrid B.
“He was only a kid but you could see the quality on him then. You just thought he could be a superstar.
“Didn’t end up playing Real Madrid first team but what a career he had, not only for Manchester United and Chelsea but the Spanish national team and Valencia. It’s great to have him in the league.”
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Aloisi’s Western are back in Tarneit for their first home fixture of the season and kicking off 2024-25 with a 1-1 draw away to last season’s Semi-Finalists Wellington Phoenix.
This season marks the first full campaign in which Western will play out of Ironbark Fields, having played three matches at the Tarneit venue last term.
“We can’t wait. Hopefully get a big crowd. Hopefully it’s a sell-out,” said Aloisi.
“I know a lot of people were positive about our result and performance in Wellington because before the season, people didn’t know or weren’t really sure where we would be at with so many younger players.
“They will help us, they will help give us energy and get us over the line when we need it. We feel at home, we are going to be able to really take the game to the opposition, score goals and hopefully start off with a win, and make it into a real fortress.”
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Last week saw seven academy graduates feature for Western in their draw with the Phoenix at Sky Stadium.
Matt Grimaldi, Oli Lavale and Charbel Shamoon started, while Jake Najdovski, Abel Walatee, Rhys Bozinovski and Dylan Leonard came off the bench.
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“We’re excited about all the players coming through. We’ve seen with our NPL team and the way they’ve gone the past two years, not only had good results and really pushed to be promoted,” said Aloisi. “That’s why you’re then able to make that next step and come up into the first team.
“We’re happy with the way they’re progressing most of them. They keep on progressing each day in training and that’s what gives you the belief they can perform when needed and a lot of them have stepped up.”
“I think we probably have the most who played (smiling). I think it’s great,” Aloisi said.
“Look, you don’t want to just give opportunities to players because they’re there. They need to deserve it and I know our players were deserving of it and they were ready to go. It showed when they came on.
“Throughout the league, that’s what we want. We still want to make sure it’s a competitive league and the product is good, but it’s also to help young players take the next step. We’re definitely doing that and I know a lot of other teams are.”
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It comes amid a growing buzz around the Isuzu UTE A-League – a buzz that was highlighted by Adelaide United’s Dylan Pierias heading into the Reds’ season opener against Central Coast Mariners following their week-one bye.
Does Aloisi feel it?
“I did, especially watching the Sydney Derby,” the Championship-winning coach replied. “I was excited.
“We know Mata and Costa add to that but just the quality of both teams, the crowd. Then you watch Auckland and then there’s another big crowd. So you get excited about the whole vibe around the league.
“We hope it will be the same here. If we do get a sell out, I know the atmosphere here – even though it’s not a massive crowd, the atmosphere will be good.”
Western defender James Donachie echoed those thoughts.
“We’ve put the effort in to make it that way,” Donachie said. “We’re at a point in the league where we’ve had to invest in the marketing of it to make people aware of it. You can see that.
“I feel the same, I feel people are aware we’re back and the season started. Started with the Sydney Derby and Auckland got 20,000 people to a football game. It’s exciting.”
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Donachie fronted the media prior to Aloisi on Thursday morning.
This will be the 31-year-old’s 13th season the A-Leagues, having first broken through at Ange Postecoglou’s Brisbane Roar.
Donachie won his one and only Championship with Melbourne Victory in 2017-18 and after taking it for “granted”, the veteran is hungry for more silverware and believes Western are capable of emerging triumphant in 2024-25.
“My early years I definitely took it for granted,” said Donachie. “I was at Brisbane as well and that’s when Ange was there.
“Went to Victory and first year we made the final and got done on penalties. The second year won again. Being a young guy, you think this is normal. Now I’ve gone five or six years without a Championship. But that’s what I play for. That’s all I’m chasing, chase the trophies and as many as you can get.
“I believe we have a team here that can do that this year otherwise I wouldn’t be there, because for me that’s what it’s all about.”
