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Leckie wants fans in stands
Melbourne City star Mathew Leckie, who is set to return from injury, urged fans to get down to Saturday night’s game, with a crowd of more than 20,000 already expected.
“If you really want to experience a good game of football, no better than a derby,” Leckie said.
“There’ll be a real intensity in the game, and should be a good atmosphere as well.”
Matthew Leckie plays for the A-League All Stars in May.Credit: Getty Images
Leckie hailed the improving standard of the league since he returned from a lengthy career in Germany.
“The standard is very underestimated here,” he said.
“A perfect example is, a lot of the foreigners have come over here expecting it to be easier than what it actually is.
“It’s not an easy league to play in. All the teams are trying to win the game. There’s a lot of entertainment and attacking. No team really parks the bus.
“In saying that … if you see it on the TV and you watch behind in the stands, and there’s no one sitting there, then it just automatically makes the quality less.”
There is extra spice to Saturday’s game, with former City captain and coach Patrick Kisnorbo calling the shots for the Victory.
Leckie still speaks with Kisnorbo regularly – but this week it’s been radio silence.
“Just adds more fuel to the derby,” Leckie said.
“Knowing him as a coach and how he prepared us, Melbourne Victory’s gonna come out firing, really intense and aggressive.
“So it’ll match the derby perfectly.”
AAP
When will we see Mitch Langerak?
By Roy Ward
Victory fans will have to wait until the January transfer window opens to see former Socceroos goal-keeper Mitch Langerak back in club colours.
The 37-year-old custodian finished a glittering career with J-League club Nagoya Grampus earlier this month and he previously announced he would be returning home to Australia to play for the Victory.
But because the J-League season doesn’t align with the transfer windows, the Victory are unable to put him in their side until the January window opens.
“I’m sure he will take some time off which he deserves after a long season, long playing career in Japan,” Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo told this masthead this week.
“It’s his time to sit back and reflect, but in saying that we want him as quickly as possible.”
Kisnorbo leaves Arzani, Fornaroli on the bench
The Victory have left some firepower on the bench with Australian internationals Daniel Arzani and Bruno Fornaroli starting on the pine.
Melbourne City have named their side for tonight.
He could have been like Ange, but this Aussie coach copped a furious backlash from French fans
By Roy Ward
They say the first one through the wall always gets bloody.
Patrick Kisnorbo knows a bit about that.
The new Melbourne Victory boss became the first Australian to coach in a top-five European men’s league when he was appointed to lead French club Troyes in November 2022, about six-months before Ange Postecoglou became Tottenham Hotspur manager.
New Melbourne Victory coach Patrick Kisnorbo.Credit: Getty Images
While Postecoglou brought his attacking, pressing style to Spurs and won plenty of acclaim and fanfare, Kisnorbo’s experience, at a smaller, embattled club – a struggling side with a remit to promote youth players – was almost the polar opposite.
The club faced a furious backlash from their fans who despised the City Group’s management of their side and took out a good portion of that anger on the former Socceroos defender.
They were relegated from France’s Ligue 1 to Ligue 2 in mid-2023 and continued to struggle in the lower competition before Kisnorbo was fired last December, just over a year since leaving Australia.
Good evening
G’day everyone and welcome to our live blog from the Melbourne Derby as the Victory take on City at AAMI Park.
Kickoff is set for 7.35pm AEDT and we will take you through all the major moments and reactions as former City boss Patrick Kisnorbo leads the Victory against his old side.
He said this week he expects boisterous reception from City’s supporters and I think that is a fair expectation.
It should be a brilliant night of football to come with a crowd of more than 20,000 expected.
Enjoy the night to come.
