No grudge match but Victory’s Mata to face his old club
Anna Harrington |
Juan Mata looms as the man who can sink his former club Western Sydney further into the A-League Men doldrums.
But he and Melbourne Victory are more focused on maintaining their own hot streak, rather than piling pain on the Spanish superstar’s old club.
Mata was used sparingly by Western Sydney boss Alen Stajcic last season.
But he has been arguably the form player in the league, leading the ALM in assists (four) and chances created (35) amid Victory’s four-game winning streak, while the Wanderers are on a five-game winless run and bottom of the table.
After masterminding Victory’s 3-2 win over Perth, Mata, 37, played down any suggestion Saturday’s clash would be a grudge match – and so did coach Arthur Diles on Friday.
“He’s a pro and nothing has been discussed. He’s not that type of person and neither am I,” Diles said.
“He’s got to keep going. He’s doing really well. He’s doing everything we wanted him to do and believed that he would and could.
“It’s nice to see him enjoying his football. It’s nice to see the players and him gelling really well. And it’s nice to see the whole team starting to gel. That’s important.
“The football is getting more fluent and fluid and the relationships between players are getting better and stronger, and the team’s better for it.”
Midfielder Denis Genreau added: “Hopefully he can keep performing the way he has been in the last weeks.
“Because he’s been a joy to watch, joy to play with, and he’s been a big reason as well for the team’s success in the last weeks.”
The Wanderers are under pressure amid a winless run where they have been wasteful in attack and gone goalless in four of their past five games.
It has Victory wary of what’s to come.
“We expect probably the toughest game we’ve had this year,” Diles said.
“We’ve got a lot of respect for them as a team, as a club.
“And we know they’re hurting. They probably don’t deserve to be where they are. I don’t believe they deserve to be there; they’re a better side than that. They’ll be up for it.
“We were there not long ago. We know what it feels like. It’s not nice and you’ve got to fight your way out of it. We’re expecting a big fight tomorrow.”
Victory will be without captain Roderick Miranda (hamstring) but regain attacker Reno Piscopo, while Western Sydney have farewelled defender Alex Bonetig, who has joined MLS club Portland Timbers.
Later on Friday, Victory announced the signing of Japanese striker Charles Nduka – who can play once the transfer window opens on January 14 – until season’s end.
Nduka, 27, most recently played for J3 League side Kagoshima United and provides competition for Nikos Vergos.
He was identified through Victory’s access to minority owner Tony Bloom’s analytics company Jamestown Analytics
“He’s a different type of striker. He’s a different profile to what we’ve got,” Diles said.
“He’s quite physical. He’s a big lad, he’s physically robust.
“I definitely think with him, you can play with two up top.”
AAP
