Melbourne Victory’s difficult start to the Hyundai A-League season has not affected morale within the club’s stellar squad, according to new arrival Marco Rojas.
Melbourne Victory’s difficult start to the Hyundai A-League season has not affected morale within the club’s stellar squad, according to new arrival Marco Rojas.
Victory grabbed all the headlines in the off-season, recruiting Jean Carlos Solorzano from champions Brisbane Roar as well as enticing exciting teenager Rojas to leave Wellington Phoenix.
And of course, Socceroo superstar Harry Kewell was eventually added to the squad on the eve of the season.
With Mehmet Durakovic promoted to head coach and joined by former skipper Kevin Muscat as his assistant, the new-look Victory were tipped to take the competition by storm.
But they have managed just two points from their first three outings this season, a return which has been described as unacceptable by several players.
However, Rojas insists that the less-than-desirable results are not affecting dressing room morale.
“It hasn’t really affected us as a group,” Rojas said when asked about the team’s slow start.
“Everyone is still the same. Everyone comes to training happy, everyone talks to each other and everyone leaves happy.”
“We’ve been trying not to let it get to us and I don’t think it has.”
Despite his relative inexperience, Rojas is well aware of the need to start winning and build momentum if Victory are to fulfil their lofty pre-season expectations.
Their next opportunity to do so is against Rojas’ former side Wellington in Sunday’s match at Westpac Stadium.
“You have to get the three points and we’re trying to work out how we can get there and hopefully it will work out this weekend in Wellington,” he said.
“I think we just have to start relaxing and start playing a bit of football and being comfortable with the ball.”
“We’re not panicking here because we know that we’re good enough to put in a good performance and hopefully that will come this weekend.”
“It’s frustrating not being able to score and I’m sure that when the first one goes in, there’ll be a big relief over here.”
“But like I said, we know we can play better than what we are, so we’re going to keep going and hopefully that’ll come.”
Rojas has started all three matches so far for Victory this season, and was among the first names on the team sheet for Wellington in the second half of the last term.
But the 19-year-old is under no illusions about the need to produce if he is to keep his place at the top of the pecking order.
“I don’t think there is (such) a thing as automatic choice in any football club,” Rojas said.
“You’ve always got a big-ish squad, and you’ve got to fight for your position. It’s no different here.”
“At the moment I’ve been lucky enough to start, but I’ve got to keep performing and hopefully keep starting games.”
“My performances have been all right, but I’d prefer it if the team was going well as well.”
