Jeff Hopkins has seen an impressive response on the training track heading into this weekend’s Double Header.
Melbourne Victory will line up for the Ninja A-League match against Adelaide United with a point to prove after suffering their first home loss of the season in Round 6.
Last Friday night, an early lead was not the launchpad to a three-point return at the Home of the Matildas, as Canberra United came on strong to take a surprise 1-3 win.
Eight days later, Victory have their chance to bounce back as part of a bumper day of Original Rivalry action at AAMI Park, with the Women’s clash, kick-off 4:50pm, followed by the Men’s team also taking on Adelaide at 7:35pm.
Speaking during his pre-match press conference, Hopkins detailed how the players have taken every possible measure to ensure they come out firing on Saturday, December 13.
“I think the players have responded really well as usual. It’s hard after a defeat to come in, but something you’ve got to do. The real heartwarming thing for me is the player’s reaction out on the field and off the field.
“So many players have come to myself or other coaching staff and asked for a bit of help – ‘What could we have done better? How could we have done things differently? We want to watch our next opponent.’
“It’s been great, and the training has been fantastic as well, so we can’t fail to get better with that type of attitude. And I love these players, and I’m really proud to be able to work with them as well.”
Victory’s meeting with Adelaide, the 32nd in A-League Women’s competition, starts a sequence of four games in 14 days during a busy festive schedule, which includes a Melbourne Derby.
The run of quick turnarounds will be eased thanks to some positive news Hopkins shared on the injury front.
“Nicki (Flannery) will be back this week. She’s back in the squad, which is a great boost for us.
“Chelsea (Blissett), she’s made steady progress this week. Trained again this morning, and she’s trained most of this week, most of the sessions. So she’s not far off, but she’s not quite right.
“Sienna (Saveska) is a week or 10 days away from being able to start again. I think a scan, and she gets a thumbs up, she’ll be straight back into it. She won’t be too far away.”
Watch Hopkins’ full press conference below.
