Socceroos winger shares how coach’s wake-up call has him soaring: ‘the boost I required’

Melbourne Victory winger Daniel Arzani believes that the public critique he received from Socceroos head coach Tony Popovic earlier this year has significantly contributed to his transformation this season.

At the beginning of the year, Popovic expressed dissatisfaction with his former Melbourne Victory player, stating that Arzani’s training performances during the October international window fell short while he was with the national team.

Despite this criticism, the Socceroos manager gave the winger another opportunity to showcase his talent by selecting him for the vital World Cup qualifiers against Indonesia and China in March. Arzani feels that Popovic’s public remarks have played a pivotal role in helping him regain his form.

“It’s always an honour to represent the national team. It’s a significant confidence booster, and you return with a fresh mindset. You come back with a new outlook and are eager to make an impact,” he expressed.

“Having worked with the boss for quite a while, he understands me well,” Arzani noted when asked about Popovic’s comments.

“I think he realised that what I needed at that moment was probably just a bit of a kick up the backside.”

“I believe it was well-intentioned, and honestly, it has benefitted me in the long run,” he added.

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“I reflect on my current state, both mentally and physically, and I feel I’m in an excellent position to make a significant impact for the team as we approach the final matches, with hopes of reaching the finals as well.”

Currently sitting fifth on the ladder and three points clear of the finals spots, Victory will travel across the Tasman to face Wellington Phoenix, following their impressive 5-3 victory against Adelaide United, although they had a bye last weekend.

“I was thinking about that after the game. It’s somewhat frustrating to have a bye right after such a performance,” he remarked.

“But it is what it is; every team has a bye this season. I’m confident we can regain our momentum this week. It’s another crucial match against Wellington, and we need to bring home three points this weekend.”