Tara Murray
In just three short years, Western United has become the kings of the A-League men’s competition.
Often criticised both on and off the park, United has continued to build and prove their critics wrong.
They did exactly that on Saturday night in the A-League grand final. Under first year coach John Aloisi, United beat Melbourne City 2-0.
Aleksandar Prijovic was the key man as he flicked on a header that ended in a Nuno Reis own goal in the first two minutes before scoring a second goal on the half hour mark.
Neither team would score in the second half, with United able to celebrate a significant achievement that not many people predicted.
There were heroes all around the ground. Prijovic would win the Joe Marston Medal, but Neil Kilkenny in the midfield and captain on the day Josh Risdon coming up big when needed.
Chants of John Aloisi rang out around the ground and even by players gate crashing the after game press conference. as the former Socceroo star’s return to coaching was capped off with his first A-League title as a coach.
“The club is only three years old, so to be able to do that, what we did, not only tonight, from the beginning of the season is amazing,” he said.
“It’s an amazing feeling, amazing night so happy for the football club as a whole.”
All season Aloisi and the playing group spoke about belief and the feeling that they could create something special.
While they believed it, not many others did, as they went in as the underdog against both other Melbourne teams in the finals.
Aloisi said for them they just focused on what they could control.
“We never spoke about nobody believing us, we spoke about us believing in ourselves more and about us working towards something,” he said.
“Mindset, process, preparation. We didn’t care what others were saying, if we did I don’t think we would be in that position now.
“We just worried about ourselves, worked hard everyday and we get the reward.”
Having opened the scoring with the quickest goal in grand final history, Aloisi was weary of how the game would play out.
He need not worry, with his side doing as they had so many times this season after scoring early.
Aloisi said they looked dangerous going forward, while also limiting City’s chances.
Prijovic, who signed with the club on a multi-season deal, said there was a real belief in the squad right from the start.
“I would say individual awards are always important as they are achieved as a team,” he said.
“The team has been amazing from the coaching staff to everyone to the fans.
“Everything went our way, we believed in it from the very beginning. As soon as we reached the final it’s going to be tough but we have to take it. Not many believed in us.
“But this is life we believed and it has been a very long way a long year, the game went in our favour
“We did a fantastic job today and I think everyone today in the stadium agrees we fully deserve this victory.”
Kilkenny got to share the victory with his family. He had only seen them three weeks in the last six months.
“It’s been a hard slog,” he said on the broadcast. “A lot of sacrifice but we are glad to be here now and to win it,
“To share it with your family it’s one of those things.
“The club wants to improve, they’re a club that wants to invest … it’s one of the best clubs I’ve been at.”
For Aloisi, there was a sense of joy and relief at getting the victory. He admitted that he had his doubts it would ever happen.
“I was sitting in my hospital bed nearly three years ago saying I want to coach, I need to coach, I have a lot more in me,” he said.
“I believed that. I was waiting for the right opportunity and someone giving me that opportunity to coach.
“Once you’re in a job then it’s not about you, it’s about the team, the club and where we are going as a club
“It’s more satisfying when I see all the hard work that goes into a new club. It’s not easy.”
While the celebrations will last for a few weeks, Aloisi said a win like this will only help in the journey of the club.
“What I loved about the players we signed this year, it wasn’t just because they didn’t have anywhere else to go, it’s because they wanted to create history. They wanted to come and felt that we were going to build something special and we were going challenge and create history and they are their reason we were able to do that.
“Now it might be easier, people will see that we mean business we don’t want to be here just to make up numbers.”
