Fired up Victory's quest for trophies starts at Leichhardt Oval

Melbourne Victory star Carl Valeri has written off any threat of the team suffering a hangover from last season's double success in the A-League premiership and championship, declaring: "It's a new book and we want to win everything".

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Carl Valeri says Melbourne Victory's desire to win silverware is as strong as ever. (Getty) Source: Getty Images Asia Pacific

Ahead of the team's FFA Cup round of 32 game against NSW State League 1 side Balmain Tigers at Leichhardt Tigers on Tuesday, Valeri said the players had felt no need to speak to each other about their motivation for the new season because they can "see it in each other's eyes".

"Winning a premiership and a grand final was amazing, because it means not only have you won on that final night, you've had a fantastic A-League season," Valeri said.

"It's great, you know, you're the A-League champions, you've done everything you wanted to do and what you wanted the team to do.

"But we've looked at each other and said to ourselves: 'Last year was last year, it's gone. We enjoyed it, but it's gone, that's it. It's the first page in a new book. We start again and we want to win everything'.

"We want to win every game we play and that's our mentality. That won't change this season, regardless of what competition we play in. We've got a lot on our plate, with the A-League, Asian Champions League and FFA Cup, but we want to win it all.

"The objective, the goals, are to win, again. We don't even need to talk about it because we just know it, amongst ourselves. We know that this is what we came in to do. We can see it in each other's eyes.

"There are a lot of experienced players here, but before we even take that in to consideration it's the young boys who actually drive us on. So there are no problems in terms of motivation. There is no need to have a conversation - it's just what we do."

Apart from the significant loss of captain and midfielder Mark Milligan, Victory has done very well to keep its championship-winning squad together.

The goalkeeping department improved with the signing of Danny Vukovic - arguably last season's best-performed custodian in the A-League - from Perth Glory and veteran striker Archie Thompson was re-signed after it was originally feared salary cap restraints might squeeze him out.

The versatile Leigh Broxham is set to take over from Milligan alongside Valeri in the important midfield partnership that has the dual responsibility of screening ahead of the back four in defence and facilitating teammates in attack.

"We have great depth and when Mark wasn't there last season, which happened a lot of the time, 'Broxy' filled in there and had a fantastic season," Valeri said.

"He played everywhere - right back, centre back, midfield - and every time he did a fantastic job.

"Playing with Broxy in midfield is very easy. We work well together and we played some of our best games together - especially in the first two games of the season, which really set our benchmark.

"We have other players competing to play as well, so who is going to fill that spot is not going to be a problem."

Valeri is ineligible to play against Balmain Tigers because of a one-match suspension after he was red-carded late in the 3-0 grand final win over Sydney FC after a second bookable offence.

Victory is also without Nick Ansell and Rashid Mahazi, both of whom are injured, and Thompson because of illness, but otherwise it is a full-strength squad that has travelled to Sydney.

Valeri said Victory had prepared for the game like it would for an A-League match.

"We had a similar experience last season, when we played Tuggeranong United in the FFA Cup," he said. "These are teams that look forward to playing against Melbourne Victory and we don't take these games lightly. We prepare like we prepare for an A-League game.

"We depend a lot on routine. That's how you get back to your basic structure at the start of a preparation and that's what makes you strong. Normally, if you stray away from that it means you haven't played your best. We play our best when we stick to the structure.

"We stick to the routine - all of our training sessions, the rest day, travelling down the day before the game, it's exactly the same as in-season."

Victory expects the Tigers to be very spirited and up for the contest.

"They should be very excited that they made it through," Valeri said. "It's a fantastic achievement. It will be a great night for everyone, a great night for football, and I'm sure they'll have their family and friends there and a lot of support behind them."


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5 min read
Published 4 August 2015 9:14am
By Greg Prichard
Source: SBS

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