A-League finals: Melbourne City keen to shake ‘soft’ tag; Western United battle injury concerns

Melbourne City have just completed their finest ever regular season, but have yet to shake the perception they have a soft underbelly.

Curtis Good after Melbourne City’s elimination final loss in 2019.

Nursing a battered and bruised squad, Western United face a tough ask even before they confront a Melbourne City outfit determined to shake its ‘soft underbelly’ reputation and reach a maiden A-League grand final.

City enter Wednesday night’s semi-final on the back of a best-ever second-placed finish after the regular season, but doubts remain about their performance in big games – as evidenced by their losses to Adelaide in last year’s elimination final and then a 4-0 humbling in the FFA Cup final at the start of the year.

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Curtis Good reacts to City’s loss in last year’s A-League Elimination Final against Adelaide. Picture: AAP

A triumph over Victorian rivals Western, who enter Wednesday night’s semi-final with five wins from seven games post-shutdown, would go some way to silencing City’s doubters.

“I think we’ve proven in the last three games we’ve got that winning mentality,” said City defender Curtis Good.

“I realise we’ve got the tag of letting go of big games. You can look at it from the outside as a mental thing, but when we’re out there it doesn’t really cross my mind – it’s just another game we have to win.

“And I think we’re probably in the best position we have been, coming into these finals.”

Curtis Good holds off Western’s Panagiotis Kone earlier this year. Picture: Alan Barber

Standing in their way is a Western side riding the highs of a late season surge, but one which is sweating on the status of key playmaker Max Burgess, Socceroo Josh Risdon and veteran defender Andrew Durante, who all received treatment in a brutal second half against Brisbane.

Durante and Burgess were able to soldier on but of most concern is right back Risdon, who was immediately substituted after clutching at his ankle.

Fatigue is also certain to be a factor for the A-League newcomers, who played six regular games in a gruelling post-shutdown schedule before Sunday night’s victory.

Alessandro Diamanti celebrates his wonder-goal against Brisbane Roar. Picture: Getty

Superstar Alessandro Diamanti holds the key to Western’s hopes, and the 37-year-old played the full 90 minutes against the Roar, while 35-year-old Besart Berisha was substituted in the dying minutes.

“We make no excuses here. It’s been tough all the way through,” manager Mark Rudan said.

“All the players, and actually the club, have made huge sacrifices to be here.

“The character is unbelievable. The collective spirit is even better. That collective spirit is going to go a long way as far as we’re concerned.”

Western were cagey on Monday about the state of the injuries, opting to keep a low profile ahead of their maiden semi-final appearance.

Diamanti celebrates with manager Mark Rudan. Picture: Getty

City won the last encounter between the outfits 3-1, against a Western side gearing up for the finals by resting key players, and based on that clash Rudan will have no hesitation throwing younger members of his squad in a do-or-die situation on Wednesday.

“I learned that the young players did a really good job. I learned that they’re able to mix it with the best,” he said.

“We’ve got trust and belief in them now, that when called upon they can do a job.

“It was an invaluable experience for the players that played in that game.

“In terms of Melbourne City, they did exactly what we thought they’d do in terms of their positional play, their movement.

“They’re a good solid team and they’re going to be respected.”

The Daily Telegraph