Melbourne City's Vidmar Optimistic After Key Win, Aims for Stronger Season Start

Melbourne City's Vidmar Optimistic After Key Win, Aims for Stronger Season Start

Melbourne City caretaker coach Aurelio Vidmar celebrates with Jamie Maclaren of Melbourne City after winning the A-League Men round three match between Melbourne City and Sydney FC at AAMI Park, on November 03, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia(Image-Getty)

 Aurelio Vidmar, the freshly appointed coach of New Melbourne City, is optimistic that the team's recent 2-0 triumph over Sydney FC last Friday will serve as a foundational framework for their upcoming matches, as they strive to overcome their lackluster start in the A-League season.

Vidmar assumed the position earlier in the week after Rado Vidosic was dismissed following City's 6-0 defeat by Adelaide United in the previous week. This back-to-back loss had put City in a precarious position in the league standings. However, goals from Steven Ugarkovic and Jamie Maclaren in Vidmar's debut game as coach secured a vital victory, setting the stage for their upcoming encounter with Thailand's Buriram United in the Asian Champions League.

"We aim to maintain the same playing style showcased tonight and build upon it, be it against Buriram in the Champions League this Wednesday or against Macarthur the following week," Vidmar expressed. "Consistency is key. We cannot afford to deviate from this strategy."

The recent win lifted City from the bottom of the A-League standings, leaving Sydney at the tail end of the 12-team setup with zero points from their first three matches.

Despite their slow start in the domestic league, City finds themselves at the top of Group H in the Asian Champions League, with a three-point lead over Japan's Ventforet Kofu. Advancement to the next round is only guaranteed for the group winners.

However, the demanding nature of their domestic and continental commitments will restrict Vidmar's ability to prepare as thoroughly as he would prefer, hindering his ongoing efforts to elevate the team's performance.

"I would ideally prefer more training time, especially given the circumstances of being newly appointed, to work on various aspects," he remarked. "However, the players are eager to play rather than train. Juggling midweek games and upcoming travels makes it challenging. Hopefully, we can have some of our injured players back soon to bolster our squad."

"Undoubtedly, it will remain challenging, but at this moment, we should take pride in our recent accomplishments. We must relish these moments. Ultimately, it's about the players, and on a night like this, they should relish and savor their success," Vidmar concluded.