Victory’s Nick Ansell and Jacob Butterfield believe the Melbourne Derby is the perfect fixture to launch a run of form and ignite the club’s 2020/21 A-League campaign.
Speaking at Marvel Stadium ahead of Saturday’s unmissable fixture, the two players sent an early message to Victory’s neighbouring rivals, Melbourne City.
“Against City, we’re going into that game only to win,” said Ansell.
Tickets for Victory v City are available here.
🗣 "We're ready to go" 💪 @JLButterfield and @NickAnsell5 preview the #MelbDerby.#MVFC #Since05 pic.twitter.com/1aRO0DP2CO
— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 4, 2021
Ansell
Ansell is hoping to feature in his 12th Melbourne Derby after missing Victory’s last two fixtures through injury.
“It’s for the fans. We have amazing fans – the best in the league and hopefully they turn out this weekend.”
The 27-year-old believes chemistry within the playing group is still building and the players are determined to climb the A-League ladder.
“There’s plenty more games to go. We’re starting to get our forward players back on the pitch and they’re scoring goals,” he said.
“We need to tighten up at the back but of course we can get back up there – that’s definitely the goal.”
#MelbDerby = Drama
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥#MVFC #Since05
Tickets 👉 https://t.co/wNUH0Z7cJY pic.twitter.com/RcVO4VnKg9— Melbourne Victory (@gomvfc) March 3, 2021
Butterfield
“For Melbourne Victory, it will give us a massive boost to get a win in the Derby,” said Butterfield.
“With everything that has happened this season, we don’t need any motivation for this game, with where we are in the league – we’re ready to go.”
Butterfield scored his first A-League goal in last weekend’s 4-3 defeat against Western United, beating Filip Kurto with a left-footed strike from range.
“We can learn from what we did wrong, but also from what we did right,” said the English midfielder.
“Saturday is a perfect game for us to get onto winning ways, start moving up the table and fulfil our potential.”
