Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton is still confident his side can still make the finals ahead of Saturday’s must-win clash against Newcastle.
Melbourne Victory coach Jim Magilton is still confident his side can still make the finals ahead of Saturday’s must-win clash against Newcastle.
Victory are currently in eighth place, five points behind the six-placed Jets and with just four games remaining, anything but a victory on Saturday would make it near impossible to make the top six.
Magilton, who has coached just one victory from eight matches since taking charge, has been encouraged by the side’s recent performances and said the signs are there for Victory to start dominating matches.
“Have to win. Obviously we’re running out of games and we need to win tomorrow. Importance of the game is such that we need to rise to the occasion and I’m confident we can,” he said before training on Friday.
“I’m absolutely confident that we can still get there, obviously we’ve got to win games and it’s important that we go into the game knowing we can the game.”
“There’s been a lot of positives built up over the last few weeks – second half last week I thought we were very good and unlucky not to win the game.”
“I’ve been pleased with the performances and they’ve got better and better. Obviously we would have liked more wins on the board, but on a week-to-week basis very pleased with the application of the players.”
“The positives are there for people to see. The second halves in the last three games have been really good and we’ve just got to maintain that and hopefully we get the break of the ball.”
“We understand that Newcastle are a team on the up, they’ve had a couple of good results, they’re a well organised side with quality in it and we understand that they’re going to come at us.”
Magilton was also confident striker Archie Thompson, who has gone seven games without scoring, will find the back of the net after his starring cameo for the Qantas Socceroos on Wednesday night.
“Archie’s missed a couple of chances so if Archie starts scoring goals – I’m sure he can – he puts himself in positions week in week out,” he said.
“I’m sure he’ll be very confident having come off the bench on Wednesday night and done so well. Let’s hope he gets a chance on Saturday and sticks one in the net.”
“We’re enforcing the positives, we’re obviously doing something right if we can create chances and ultimately Archie’s put himself in those positions, he’s made great runs and he’s been clever.”
“Keeper’s have made great saves so he hasn’t done an awful lot wrong, we just need a little bit of luck in front of goal.”
Magilton said Socceroos Mark Milligan and Harry Kewell, who played the full 90 minutes against Saudi Arabia, are a chance to start from the bench against the Jets.
The Northern Irishman is also hopeful the club will sign Milligan once his loan deal ends at the end of the season.
“Certainly it would be worth a conversation, he’s improved the team no end since he’s been in it. He’s certainly got the right sort of character I like in a football club and he has the necessary qualities to raise the bar,” he said of Milligan.
