Melbourne Victory still chasing perfection despite epic 12 months

MELBOURNE Victory has won five games in a row. It is the defending A-League and FFA Cup champions. But Melbourne remains unsatisfied.

Melbourne Victory V Wellington Phoenix at Etihad Stadium, 2nd November 2015, Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Australia. Melbourne Victory's Besart Berisha celebrates his goal in rhe first half. Picture : George Salpigtidis

MELBOURNE Victory has won five games in a row.

It is the defending A-League and FFA Cup champions.

The team has had a nine-day break since its last game and, according to coach Kevin Muscat, the players are as “close to recharged as possible” as a result.

Captain Carl Valeri is available after two games out with a hamstring injury, leading goalscorer Besart Berisha, rested last week, comes back in, while Olyroos right back Jason Geria also returns.

And yet, in case Saturday’s Etihad Stadium assignment couldn’t be any more daunting for an Adelaide side that is still winless this season, Muscat is demanding that his team gets even better.

Why? Because it won’t rest until it finds “perfection” in its game — something which Muscat said is still a way off.

“Without doubt there are areas, in every aspect, where we can improve, and we’ve got to strive to do that,” Muscat said.

“One glaring thing for us is that we’ve got to control games for longer. And it’s a big ask because in a competition that is so even, every team is going to get an opportunity through a game where they get on top.

“We’ve managed to, when the opposition does get their moments, defend very, very well this season, but trying to stay in control for longer (is one thing).

“We want to be a lot more ruthless in our transition, we want to defend better — we weren’t too pleased with the goal we conceded (late) last week — so in every aspect you’re always striving for perfection.

“It probably doesn’t exist, but that’s the type of group we’ve got here, they’re always hungry and thirsty for knowledge about how we can improve.”

There remains the possibility Valeri could be eased back in to the action from the bench tonight with Rashid Mahazi, a solid performer in the past two games, a chance to retain his midfield spot.

Victory had, to last Thursday, played six games in 28 days.

It was a testing period that also included an international window in which Kosta Barbarouses had to travel to the Middle East and back, as too did Olyroos Geria, Scott Galloway, Connor Pain and Giancarlo Gallifuoco.

The nine-day break following the win over Central Coast was then, Muscat said, an “opportunity to get them really recharged and freshened up” for tonight’s showdown with their South Australian rivals.

“In selection for the last game, no risks were taken, certain things were flagged,” Muscat said.

“Some players have even worked harder because they haven’t had the game time.

“But we’re probably at a point now where everyone is as close to recharged as possible.”

Originally published as Melbourne Victory still chasing perfection despite epic 12 months