Take a look at the highlights from the Elimination Final showdown between the Wanderers and Victory.
Western Sydney’s head coach Alen Stajcic has revealed that he has yet to finalise a new contract with the club, following the Wanderers’ abrupt exit from the Finals Series on Saturday night at the hands of the Melbourne Victory.
In search of their first Finals Series victory since 2016, the Wanderers found themselves trailing just seven minutes into the match when Kasey Bos netted an early goal.
Wanderers striker Zac Sapsford equalised for the home side in the 23rd minute at CommBank Stadium, but Victory regained the upper hand just before half-time with Zinedine Machach finding the back of the net, and they never looked back after that.
“It was that bit of quality we needed,” Stajcic remarked in his post-match media briefing when asked about the challenges his side faced on Saturday night.
“The match was evenly balanced; you’re up against a strong opposition, which I’ve mentioned throughout the week.
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“We were up against (Nishan) Velupillay, (Daniel) Arzani, and Machach, three of the league’s top attackers, and they netted two goals here, just as they had done a month prior.
“They’re a quality team, a potent attacking side, and we allowed them to take the lead, which let them sit back and absorb pressure later on.
“Unfortunately, we didn’t capitalise on our moments of quality. I genuinely believe that had we equalised, we would have secured a win, but it wasn’t our night. We simply weren’t good enough.”
Despite finishing fourth on the ladder, the Wanderers had a chance to seize second place on the final weekend of the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season.
However, their elimination in the opening stage of the Finals Series marked a disappointing close to what had otherwise been a promising inaugural campaign under Stajcic.
Stajcic, who joined from Perth Glory at the conclusion of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season, entered into a one-year contract to replace former Wanderers coach Marko Rudan. While reports suggest a new deal has been offered to the 51-year-old local, it remains unsigned.
“No, I haven’t,” Stajcic responded when questioned in his post-match press conference if he had signed his new contract yet.
“There’s so much to be excited about and proud of. First and foremost, I’m proud of my staff. I believe I’ve got the best team in the league, perhaps the best I’ve ever worked with.
“We have an incredible coaching staff and a fantastic group of players. From numbers one through to 25, everyone is striving for a position; that’s quite unique in the football scene.
“They form a cohesive and united squad. I couldn’t be prouder of how they have conducted themselves, whether they’re on the pitch, sitting on the bench, coming on as a substitute, or not making the squad at all.
“It’s an exceptional group of individuals. Hence, it’s particularly disheartening that we couldn’t celebrate a real victory together.”
“We’ve had numerous achievements this season: the number of goals we’ve scored, our winning streak, reigniting crowd engagement, and reconnecting with our members, all while laying a strong cultural foundation for the club. These are considerable accomplishments.”
He further stated, “However, the ultimate achievement is winning titles, and that’s what we need to keep aiming for, ensuring this serves as a solid foundation for the future as we build upon it.
“Let’s hope we can deliver a stronger performance when it matters next year.”
Compiled by SportArena.com.au.
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