Post-Match Reaction | Tony Popovic

Head Coach Tony Popovic spoke to the media after Victory’s defeat to Western Sydney.

On the performance…

“We looked a constant threat going forward, but we played a team that was very desperate and very open. We could have got a lot more goals but obviously, we didn’t defend well today. Today wasn’t a good defensive day but a very good, not just game in terms of goals, but we created some really good moments today.”

“We knew before the game we finished third. So it’s a credit to everyone at the club. So it’s a good season, a very good season but we started the game very well, attitude was great. We moved the ball quickly, we created opportunities, and scored two very nice goals.”

“It was 2-0 to start with, but we probably didn’t have that same urgency or intensity after that. And, you know, they punished us. They’ve got some individuals that can score, that can cause you problems and you know, they got back in the game and in the end, we were a bit sloppy defensively and got punished.”

On Daniel Arzani…

“I can’t remember the last time he scored with his left foot, so that’s a credit to the team, he’s been working really hard with the coaching staff, with Arthur Dilas. They’ve been really working hard on improving his left foot. It was a wonderful goal in the first half that he scored and even the second (goal), maybe he gained confidence from the first half goal.”

“But you know, it was a very dynamic game we wanted to take him off, he’s played a lot of minutes this year, the most he’s ever played, so we wanted to get him off and give them a bit of a rest and hopefully he can replicate and in some areas do even better next week.”

On Leigh Broxham…

“I certainly, before the game, I told him, ‘you know, this isn’t necessarily your last game’. But it is for the season the last match and it was wonderful what the Club put on for Brox here. He deserves all the accolades and all the praise and all the well wishes that everyone’s given him over the years.”

“When you see all the people that are sending messages, video messages, it just shows what a person he is, what a Club man he is, and you know, he deserves everything he gets. And, you know, today he came on, he was always coming on today. It was just a matter of how long he would play and he played last week and this week and unfortunately we didn’t get the win for him to remember but you know, over 18 seasons for over 450 games, I’m sure he has some fantastic memories. We want to still give him another big memory this season as well.”