Welcome to Best of the Press, where aleagues.com.au brings you everything you need to know from coach and player press conferences in the lead-in to the weekend’s action.
It’s Round 3 in the Isuzu UTE A-League, so ahead of another weekend of top-class football, take a listen to what some of the league’s head coaches and players have had to say ahead of their respective matches.
WEEKEND PREVIEW: What you need to know for Round 3 of the Isuzu UTE A-League
Sydney FC boss reveals failed transfer pursuit
Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay has revealed the club tried to sign in-form Australian talent Alex Badolato.
Having been named AFC Youth Player of the Year, Badolato has hit the ground running since joining the Newcastle Jets, most notably bagging an eye-catching hat-trick against Melbourne Victory last in Round 2.
Now, ahead of this weekend’s clash between the Jets and Sydney FC at McDonald Jones Stadium, Talay admits his side actually tried to sign the prodigious young talent whilst he was still at rivals Western Sydney Wanderers.
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“We tried to bring Alex here,” revealed Talay when speaking at his pre-game press conference on Friday morning.
“Wanderers wouldn’t release him to us. They were happy to release him to (Melbourne) Victory at that time. So yeah, look, we identify talented players.
“It’s one player that we definitely wanted to bring in. Unfortunately, now he’s at Newcastle, and I think he’s in great form, and I think he’s continued that form from the World Cup that he went away with the 20s, and a player that we need to be aware of as well.”
Hear every word of Ufuk Talay’s pre-game press conference below.
‘He’s pulled up poorly’ – City boss’ worrying Socceroo update
Melbourne City head coach Aurelio Vidmar concedes Socceroos defender Aziz Behich is a fitness concern for his side ahead of this weekend’s clash with Brisbane Roar.
Behich, 34, captained his side to the Isuzu UTE A-League Championship last season and has been an ever-present for City under Vidmar.
However, the club’s recent congested fixture list, which has seen them play in both the AFC Champions League Elite as well as the Isuzu UTE A-League, has taken quite the toll on the club’s skipper, leaving Vidmar concerned over his fitness.
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“Aziz has struggled, to be honest, this week,” said Vidmar when speaking at his pre-game press conference on Thursday.
“Just his body is sore everywhere. His back, his hips, (the) front of his legs, the back of his legs. He hasn’t trained a lot.
He added: “We got one more training session today, and just to see how it is. So, yeah, we’re just a little bit unsure about him as well.
“He’s played every minute, you know, and that’s for everyone, really, to be playing three games in a week, when you’re not used to it, he’s just pulled up poorly.
“So I said he hasn’t trained much this week, so we don’t think it’s anything serious, but he just can’t get himself going. So we’ll have one more look this morning.”
Hear every word of Aurelio Vidmar’s pre-game press conference below.
Roar coach hits back at rival coaches after ‘physical’ barb
Brisbane Roar boss Michael Valkanis has hit back at suggestions his side is overly physical, claiming rival coaches are simply intimidated by his side.
The Roar defeated Macarthur Bulls in Round 1 of the new season before falling to a late Carlo Armiento winner in Round 2 as they were beaten 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix.
FULL STORY: The question facing Isuzu UTE A-League’s ‘bully boys’ as coach claps back: ‘Really disappointed’
The Roar are back at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night as they bid to get back on track against reigning champions Melbourne City, with Valkanis stoking the fire ahead of what’s set to be an enthralling affair.
Hear every word of Michael Valkanis’ pre-game press conference below.
Glory squad stunned by early coaching exit
Perth Glory goalkeeper Matthew Sutton says he and his teammates were shocked to see head coach David Zdrilic relieved of his duties on Tuesday.
After finishing bottom of the Isuzu UTE A-League ladder in season 2024-25, Glory kicked off the new campaign with a draw against Wellington Phoenix.
However, Zdrilic’s new-look side were then thumped 4-0 by Champions Melbourne City in Round 2 – a result which prompted the Glory board to part ways with the former Socceroo.
FULL STORY: Glory CEO addresses David Zdrilic departure as timeline set for new head coach appointment
“Yeah, it’s obviously a big shock, a big change around here,” said Sutton when speaking at the club’s pre-match press conference ahead of this weekend’s home game against Melbourne Victory.
“Obviously, I’ve only been here for a couple of weeks, but you know what? We’ve got some really, really strong leaders in that dressing room.
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“So young boys like myself – or (at) 25 I like to think I’m still pretty young, we’ve got some really good leaders to sort of lean back on and trust.”
Hear every word of Matt Sutton’s pre-game press conference below.
‘He was tough – but that’s what you want!’
Irish central defender Joe Shaughnessy says he’s loving life in the Isuzu UTE A-league after making his Jets debut in their Round 2 thrashing of Melbourne Victory.
The 33-year-old missed the club’s triumphant Australia Cup run in pre-season as he continued to work on his fitness having moved to Australia from Scottish Premiership side Dundee.
However, now fully fit and raring to go, Shaughnessy is adapting nicely to life in the A-Leagues under the tutelage of a man he knows very well: head coach Mark Milligan.
“I played with him for a year in England, he was there at Southend and I got to know him then,” said the experienced centre back at his pre-match press conference on Thursday.
“He’s a bit of a legend over here, I guess, isn’t he?” smiled the Irishman. “I played against him when he played up in Scotland for Hibs (Hibernian) for a year as well. And he was, yeah – he’s tough, but, you know, that’s what you want!”
Looking to make it back-to-back wins in the Isuzu UTE A-League, the Jets host Sydney FC this weekend.
Hear every word of Joe Shaughnessy’s pre-game press conference below.
‘Met with the surgeons today’ – Nix issue Payne update
Wellington Phoenix boss Giancarlo Italiano has revealed key defender Tim Payne is likely to be out for between 8-10 weeks after breaking his collarbone.
The New Zealand international was withdrawn from last weekend’s win over Brisbane Roar in the opening 15 minutes of the game after landing awkwardly, with Italiano now revealing the defender could be set to go under the knife.
Hear every word of Giancarlo Italiano’s pre-game press conference below.
