Western Sydney Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic has launched an extraordinary attack on the agent of marquee recruit Juan Mata, lashing out at continued questioning by the media over his use of the Spanish veteran after another disappointing derby defeat.
The Wanderers slumped to their third defeat in five matches – and their second defeat to Sydney FC already this season – after Saturday night’s 4-2 loss at Allianz Stadium.
Juan Mata was benched again in Saturday night’s derby, but had a good impact in the second half.Credit: Getty Images
As in their season-opening clash in Parramatta, Stajcic once again chose not to start Mata, who came off the bench shortly after the Wanderers had gone 3-1 down. The former Premier League star immediately helped them exhibit greater control of the match, and even provided an assist from the corner kick that led to Marcus Antonsson’s 78th-minute goal.
However, the Wanderers conceded again four minutes later, and they have now lost four derbies on the trot, slipping down to 10th position on the A-League Men ladder – ahead of only Newcastle, Perth and Brisbane, the competition’s clear early strugglers.
Mata, 36, has started only two of five possible games since signing for Western Sydney, and his lack of minutes has been a huge talking point across the first part of the A-League season – and an even bigger one since the controversial comments made by Fahid Ben Khalfallah, the agent who brokered his signing, on a podcast two weeks ago.
Former Melbourne Victory star turned player agent Fahid Ben Khalfallah.Credit: Getty Images
Ben Khalfallah said on the A-League Off Air podcast that it was “insane” and “disrespectful” of Stajcic not to start Mata more often, and dismissed the coach’s concerns about his ability to keep up with the competition’s physical intensity, saying he was “disgusted” by such a view and that the Wanderers should have built their team around him. This masthead reported those comments and offered Stajcic the opportunity to respond, which he elected not to do at the time.
Asked why he had not started Mata on Saturday night, Stajcic initially said he didn’t “understand the premise of the question” before taking aim at Ben Khalfallah, suggesting he was the only reason why the issue was being debated.
“This has all come up because his agent said some stuff in the media last week,” Stajcic said.
“His agent doesn’t control the team. We’ve got 25 field players in there who I’m concerned about. We’ve got 20 staff members attached to the club. We’ve got 20,000 members. They’re my priority. And every single one of those is an equal priority.
“I don’t get phone calls from every single agent whose player’s not playing. I think he’s got a bit too much oxygen, to be honest. Fahid and his comments were out of order … they were cowardly, and they were cowardly for a number of reasons.
Juan Mata had a decent outing in the second half for the Wanderers, assisting their second goal.Credit: Getty Images
“I’ve only spoken to [Ben Khalfallah] two or three times in my life, to be honest. He’s spoken to me about how so many of his players that he has in Australia have been mistreated by coaches. They’ve been vilified or abused emotionally, physically, whatever, and he’s never opened his mouth to protect his player. His player on this occasion was on the bench, and that’s disrespect?
“If he had some courage, he would have stood up for his players before, last year when they were in the positions they were in across the world. I don’t like hearing stories like that. Then all of a sudden, he’s got the courage to come out and speak now without any comeback or [giving me a] right of reply.”
Ben Khalfallah has been contacted for comment.
As for Mata’s performance, Stajcic acknowledged he had helped the Wanderers once he came on, but stopped short of offering a glowing review.
Juan Mata (centre) with Wanderers chief executive Scott Hudson (left) and coach Alen Stajcic on the day he was unveiled.Credit: Getty Images
“It was obviously a tough game to come into. Obviously, he controlled the game a little bit,” Stajcic said.
“He had some moments where he could have done a little bit better as well. But he’s an important player for us at the moment. There were moments in the game where we needed him there, and he had some good actions.
“It’s up to him to be able to contribute when he does come on. He had some good actions today, so we want more of those, obviously.”
Sydney FC, meanwhile, started their own marquee signing Douglas Costa – and, as planned, he was withdrawn at half-time to manage his minutes on his return from a hamstring injury.
Costa’s replacement, Anas Ouahim, created a goal within three minutes of entering the fray – from a free kick that Stajcic disputed as “cheap” – and then scored a penalty in the 54th minute that ensured the Sky Blues’ dominance of general play was reflected on the scoreboard.
“They were just looking for transition moments from our mistakes. I guess that was their game plan when they loaded up the line with four players,” said Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay. “I think the scoreline doesn’t really reflect the game. I thought we were the better team overall.”
