Arthur Diles praised Melbourne Victory’s effort against Macarthur FC, but was not in the mood to celebrate a point on the road.
Friday night’s Isuzu UTE A-League draw at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, featuring a third clean sheet of the 2025/26 season, ended a run of three straight defeats for the Boys in Blue.
However, the Head Coach was frustrated that his visiting team, who created a catalogue of chances and had a Santos strike ruled out by VAR during the first half, could not take home their target of maximum points.
Speaking during his post-match press conference, Diles delivered his verdict on the Round 7 outcome before recognising the relentless efforts of his players versus the Bulls on a hot evening in New South Wales.
“It doesn’t sit well, that’s for sure. We didn’t come here to draw. We came here to win the match, and we did everything we could to try and win.”
He added: “All you can do is give your best to score, give your best to work hard and fight as a family and as a unit and fight for the jersey, for our fans, for the Club, and we did that tonight in difficult conditions, in terms of heat. So for me as a coach of this group of players, to see them fight like that to the very end, I’m proud of that.”
Victory went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first 45 when Louis D’Arrigo’s thumping effort hit the woodwork on the stroke of half-time, and it was the away side again having the best attacking moments after the break.
Two of these fell to substitute Nishan Velupillay, the second of which took a fine Filip Kurto save to keep out, and Diles commented on the 24-year-old forward’s performance as he builds into the campaign.
“We’ve got him on the park now, which is what we’ve been waiting for for almost six months. It’s going to be a slow progression and process, because he’s been out a long time, and we can’t rush him back and over bake him. So he’s doing really well.
“He has a great chance to score tonight – that shows the danger of Nish when he’s on the park, he’s always a threat.”
Watch Diles’ full press conference below.
