Impetus’ Kieran Yap reports on Melbourne Victory’s media conference involving head coach Jeff Hopkins (22/10/23).
Above: Jeff Hopkins in training during the week Image: Melbourne Victory.
After an opening day loss to Brisbane Roar, Melbourne Victory are looking to bounce back. The tests do not come any easier, up next is a trip over the bridge to face last season’s runners up Western United.
Despite going down 2-1 against Brisbane, Victory coach Jeff Hopkins saw enough positives in the game to be confident for this weekend.
“I looked really hard at the game, and we took a lot of positive out of the game,” he told the media on Friday.
“There was a lot of things that were close to what we wanted to do.
“I think we go the game plan right, we just didn’t have quite what it took to execute properly.
“We started the game well. We caused them a few problems when they sat high. I guess the area we need to work on is when they did drop off us and put two banks of five we didn’t really have too many ideas of how to break them down.
“But we’ve looked at that this week, and we’re reasonable satisfied with the performance.
“We just need to be better this week.
“This is a great opportunity…a local derby against another team that will be pretty upset with the result in the first round as well.
“It’s going to be a good chance to put things right.”
Victory dominated the early exchanges, but fell behind to a goal soon after half time. Hopkins said that his players will need to keep composed should they concede again. He hoped that the return of Elise Kellond-Knight help refocus the team on the pitch.
“Our reaction to going a goal down wasn’t great. Normally if we do concede a goal we’re right back in the game and we’re right at the opposition. It really shook us as a team.”
Although Western United had a worse result than Victory in Round One, they will not be taken lightly. Hopkins was wary of what their attack could do. He highlighted their delivery into the box and ability to get numbers forward as something his side will prepare for.
“They make you defend in those key areas and I think if we’re going to get anything out of the game on Sunday we’re going to have to be good in our 18 yard box.”
The status of Emily Gielnik and Lia Privitelli remain unknown. Both have been in training but Hopkins was unable to commit to guaranteeing them any game time. He said that the pair of wingers and Kellond-Knight would likely play against the Young Matildas next Friday which would sharpen them up against the best young talent in Australia.
Before that, they haver to face Western United, a team that was nearly impossible to beat on their home turf last season and who have added Grace Maher to the squad this year. It took some solid defending and two exceptional goals from Perth Glory to beat them last week and Hopkins is neither expecting or really wanting an easy match.
“We need a tough test this week,” he said.
“We need something to really get us motivated. A local derby is kind of ideal for us this week.”
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