Melbourne Victory star Daniel Arzani will welcome being jeered by Western Sydney Wanderers fans
A hostile atmosphere in Saturday night’s A-League elimination final is set to bring out the best in Melbourne Victory playmaker Daniel Arzani.
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Socceroos playmaker Daniel Arzani hopes he’s jeered by Western Sydney Wanderers fans on Saturday night, saying a hostile atmosphere will further inspire him to guide Melbourne Victory to an A-League elimination final win.
The Victory faces the tough task of beating the in-form Wanderers at CommBank Stadium, but it’s a challenge the confident Arzani will relish.
“They’re a good team but on our day, I don’t think there’s a team that can beat us in this league,” Arzani said.
He said the Victory “destroyed” the Wanderers for 60 minutes when the teams met at the same venue in March, only to fade in what were humid conditions to lose 4-2.
“The scoreline wasn’t reflective of the game at all,” the 26-year-old former prodigy said.
“It just really depends on us and how we come out and perform.
“I want to be walking out there and I want to be being booed. I love the gee-up of a good crowd.
“I love going to a packed stadium getting booed. I thrive off that kind of stuff, and winning a game in that type of atmosphere, there’s no better feeling.”
Despite the Wanderers’ forward line including Socceroos striker Brandon Borrello, the in-form Nicolas Milanovic and the dangerous Zac Sapsford, Arzani said the Victory had the “strongest” attacking arsenal in the competition.
“As a unit we’re very dangerous on the break, and we’ve got a lot of variety,” he said.
“Nikos (Vergos) is very good in the air and really good in the box, `Nish’ (Nishan Velupillay) is so explosive and a very good finisher, I’m slowing the game down a little bit and creating chances for the other boys, and you’ve got ‘Zizou’ (Zinedine Machach) who’s just got a bit of everything.
“At creating chances, I don’t think there’s a team that comes close to us in this league. Sometimes we have a problem finishing them off, but I don’t think there’s a frontline that can rival us in this league.”
However, Wanderers star Milanovic has just as much confidence in Western Sydney’s ability to cause the Victory a host of problems.
“If we keep playing the way we’ve been playing, that will get us through,” said Milanovic, whose team is unbeaten in its past 12 games.
“It’s been about the chemistry and confidence that we’ve built in each other. In the second half of the season, everything has been in motion for everyone.
“Our defence is working together, our attack is working together and that has been a big part of us going on this unbeaten run.
“There is no team in the league that transitions from defence to attack like us. That’s a big weapon for us going into this finals series.”
Originally published as Melbourne Victory star Daniel Arzani will welcome being jeered by Western Sydney Wanderers fans
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