Why Melbourne Victory need a Juan Mata miracle to get off rock bottom
Melbourne Victory may be forced to recall former Manchester United and Chelsea star Juan Mata. And after hitting rock bottom following three straight losses, they need him to produce some magic now more than ever.
Can Juan Mata produce some magic to dig Melbourne Victory, and his coach Arthur Diles, out of a deep hole?
With fellow midfielder Denis Genreau having been suspended for two games after being sent off for “violent conduct” in the Victory’s 1-0 loss to Brisbane Roar last week, chances are that former Manchester United and Chelsea star Mata will be recalled to the Melbourne club’s starting side for Friday night’s clash with Macarthur FC at Campbelltown Stadium.
The Victory have hit rock bottom literally, sitting last on the A-League table after three successive losses.
The club’s refusal to publicly back Diles this week only confirms how much pressure the coach is under to keep his job.
If ever Diles needs the genius of 2010 World Cup winner Mata, it’s now.
It’s probably worth the risk to throw the fit-again Socceroo Nishan Velupillay back into the Victory’s starting team as well.
Macarthur is hardly in top form, and the Victory’s players have the chance to show if they are truly playing for their coach.
ROARING TRADE
Full credit to Brisbane coach Michael Valkanis for ensuring the Roar have played to their strengths this season.
Winning football doesn’t have to be attractive football.
In the Roar’s case, winning football under Valkanis has proven to be a no-frills, uncompromising and physical style that no team likes to face.
Brisbane’s players have truly embraced Valkanis’ methods, as have the club’s loyal fans, who have had little to cheer about since the end of Ross Aloisi’s short tenure a couple of years ago.
Sitting second on the ladder, the Roar face a tough test on Sunday night against Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium, where the Reds have a perfect record this season.
However, you can bet that Valkanis and his team will see this game as another chance to prove their doubters wrong.
As a former Reds captain, Valkanis will have added motivation to ensure his side is at its best.
Being the first team to beat the Reds in Adelaide this season would be further proof that the Roar are a genuine chance to play finals football.
For Adelaide, the game is a shot at redemption after last Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 loss to the Phoeni1x in Wellington.
With the Reds’ away form remaining poor, it’s essential they keep on picking up wins at home.
TEST AWAITS WANDERERS
Friday night’s match in Perth will also be a good test for the Wanderers.
After back-to-back wins to kickstart their season, including the emotional high of a 1-0 derby win over Sydney FC, the Wanderers most now refocus and continue to pick up points regularly.
That’s often easier said than done in what is proving to be a tight competition this season.
However, if the Wanderers want to prove they are genuine title-contenders, leaving Perth with at least a point should be the minimum expectation.
Beating Sydney will mean little if the Wanderers taste defeat less than a week later.
“That (win over Sydney) was the best game we’ve played so far, and hopefully we can continue that fight every game, not just for the derby,” Wanderers striker Alou Kuol said.
Kuol added that the Glory, like the Wanderers, were “playing for their coach”.
“We’re going to have to go there and bring our best game,” he said.
GLORIOUS CHANCE FOR GRIFFITHS
Adam Griffiths can further his case to keep the Perth coaching job – at least until the end of the season – with a home win on Friday night.
Back-to-back away wins under caretaker coach Griffiths has given Perth officials plenty to contemplate in their search for a permanent replacement for the sacked David Zdrilic, who was axed after just two games this season.
Griffiths, who had been Zdrilic’s assistant, had a rocky start in the head coaching role, overseeing successive home losses.
However, since then, the Glory have bounced back with away wins over Newcastle and Macarthur FC.
After guiding @PerthGloryFC to their first back-to-back wins since 2023, should interim coach Adam Griffiths be given the role permanently? 🟣🤔
— Isuzu UTE A-League (@aleaguemen) December 3, 2025
Former A-Leagues players Naum Sekulovski and Archie Thompson discuss
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Now the time has come for Griffiths and his team to reward their loyal fans with a win at HBF Park on Friday night over Western Sydney Wanderers.
There’s nothing like a home win to get supporters truly behind their team.
If Griffiths can make it three wins on the trot, he will go a long way towards locking up the job for the remainder of the campaign.
Some may see it as a risk, but the Glory in reality have little to lose.
They are starting from a low base and have been rejected by their two preferred options to replace Zdrilic – John Aloisi and Graham Arnold.
If Perth keeps proving to be at the very least competitive under Griffiths, it’s probably a wise decision to keep him in the role as he’s been with the players since the start of pre-season in July and has probably worked out how to get the best out of them, including a seemingly revitalised Brian Kaltak.
If Griffiths has done enough by the end of the season to then stay in the gig, he will have deserved it.
If not, the Glory can then hire a coach with a higher profile and more experience, and give him the chance to sign the players he wants and have a whole pre-season to get them ready for the 2026-27 campaign.
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Originally published as Why Melbourne Victory need a Juan Mata miracle to get off rock bottom
Diles’ future clouded as Victory draws a blank again
