Celebrated defender Aziz Behich has vocally pledged his support to the increasingly criticized Melbourne City coach, Rado Vidosic. This follows the prestigious football club’s dismal commencement to the current A-League season.
Whispers have intensified regarding a widening schism between the seasoned strategist, Vidosic, and his team. These suspicions have been fuelled by the unenviable current standing of Melbourne City — last place on the league ladder. The team’s recent staggering defeat, a 6-0 weekend whipping by Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, has only served to heighten these concerns.
Adding insult to injury is the fact that City had also granted six goals in the previous season’s A-League finale. Even though the club displayed promising form in the 2023-24 AFC Champions League onset, the strain on Vidosic appears to be burgeoning. The pressure is expected to peak during Friday night’s upcoming clash against Sydney FC at AAMI Park, a contest that could secure the unwanted title of ‘league-bottom’ for the loser.
Despite the prevalent commentary, Socceroos stalwart Behich attributed City’s poor A-League performance to the players themselves. In Vidosic’s defense, he said, “Rado has been instrumental in our development as a team.”
Behich continued, “The players must take responsibility. We possess ample experience. It’s us who are on the field. Sometimes, tactics must be discarded and the encounter must be faced as a fierce contest.”
Reflecting on the 6-0 defeat, he admitted, “It was a severe blow for us. As a club and a team, it was not acceptable for Melbourne City.”
In view of last week’s brutal defeat to Adelaide, he confessed, “It was an inadequate performance; its aftermath still stings. Nevertheless, we are looking forward to demonstrating our fortitude against Sydney on Friday night.”
Facing adversity head-on, Behich dispelled any conjecture that the taxing travel from Thailand, following City’s 2-0 Champions League victory over Buriram United, contributed to their poor performance in Adelaide. Sharing these insights, he said, “While the mid-week match in Thailand was challenging, it cannot be employed as an excuse for our abysmal showing against Adelaide.”
He exudes confidence in a possible turn-around, pinning hope on the anticipated return of former Socceroos defender, Curtis Good, and previous Germany under-21 international playmaker, Tolgay Arslan. “Tolgay’s a valuable asset to the team. His performance in the games he has played thus far accentuate his importance to us, and Curtis’ leadership and deftness on the field are well-known,” he concluded.
