Melbourne Victory to ‘give the maximum’ to earn respect in derby

Melbourne Victory will ‘give the maximum’ in the first Melbourne Derby since the violent pitch invasion, their new signing says.

Wounded goalkeeper Thomas Glover is helped from the pitch after a group of Melbourne Victory fans rioted at AAMI Park. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The ugly scenes at the last Melbourne Derby were “not good” but are firmly in the rearview mirror as Melbourne Victory prepares to take on the ladder leaders, a new signing says.

French defender Damien Da Silva will play his second game for Victory in Saturday night’s grudge match, which may have some extra heat after Melbourne City goalkeeper Thomas Glover suffered a concussion and gashed head when Victory fans stormed the pitch during the last encounter.

The December 17 riot, which saw the match abandoned in the 22nd minute after City led 1-0, brought severe consequences for Victory, but it was not on the players’ minds as they plotted the hefty task of dismantling a ruthless City attack which has netted 10 goals in its last two games, Da Silva said.

Victory fans received life bans after they stormed the pitch at AAMI Park during the last Melbourne Derby on December 17. Picture: Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

“I wasn’t there (at the last Melbourne Derby) so it is difficult for me to speak about that … I saw a little thing, it was not good, sure, but we are thinking about the next game,” he said.

“For me it’s a very special match, I want to win this kind of match. People say that it’s a big derby, and I’m excited to try to win that.”

Holding off a City side stocked with firepower including the red-hot Jamie Maclaren, Mathew Leckie and Richard van der Venne would give Victory the confidence required to bounce back from the bottom of the A-League Men’s ladder, Da Silva said.

“I will give the maximum to stop them, I know they’re a good team, they are the first, we know that it will be difficult,” he said.

City midfielder Valon Berisha said he loved the pressure of playing in front of ‘literally crazy’ fans in local derbies. Picture: Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

City midfielder Valon Berisha said he relished playing in local derbies, having twice played in the Derby della Capitale for Lazio against Roma.

“It’s a full stadium and the ultras are literally crazy on both sides,” he said of the Serie A clash,” Berisha said.

“It makes it even more exciting, I like these kind of games and even this one, this is the game you want to play when it’s a good crowd and both teams are eager to win.”

Glover would not be fazed by playing in the first derby since he was attacked, Berisha said.

“We don’t even talk about it … we talked about it after it happened,” he said.

“I don’t think he’s focused on that at all, he’s done really well for us and he’s a really good goalkeeper and he has a good mindset, so I’m not worried about that.”

Originally published as Melbourne Victory to ‘give the maximum’ to earn respect in derby