Melbourne Victory are very good, but they aren’t about to run away with the A-League title.
That’s the verdict from beaten coach Josep Gombau after their 3-2 loss at the hands of the new league leaders.
Victory coach Kevin Muscat declared his side’s performance “the most intense this country has ever seen” but, eight games into the A-League season, Gombau isn’t about to anoint a champion.
“It’s so early,” he said.
“We have one point less than them.
“It’s a good team, yes, but also they have very good conditions; they spend a lot of money.
“But I don’t have a feeling this is a team that will win the league easy.”
Nigel Boogard and Sergio Cirio’s two own-goals in the opening 20 minutes set the tone for a tough night for the Reds.
While Gombau conceded defensive frailties were behind their loss, he joked he should have taken the win after “scoring more goals than them”.
“We paid for the 20 minutes in the start when we didn’t find out positions in the field,” he said.
“I think we deserved something more in the second half.
“We had some chances – I’m satisfied with the job the players did.
“It is one more game. Next week, we have another game – we’ll keep working.”
Victory remain the only side Gombau has yet to beat during his short stay in the A-League.
While downplaying the result, the rivalry is clearly present in the Spaniard’s mind – recalling previous clashes easily after his latest loss.
“Normally, when we come to play here, I don’t want to say (we’re) unlucky,” he said.
“But last year, we missed a penalty. From the counter-attack, they scored.
“Last year, also here, we scored three goals away … today, we have two own-goals.
“I hope that next game, at our home, we will win.”
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