Berisha set to decide on future
Kuol halted momentum.
Trani was heartened his side’s effort did not waver, as Oppermann capitalised on some good offensive pressure created by Noggler.
Trani praised Noggler’s impact on the match and the team’s second half application considering the deficit.
“Jamie gave us a little more drive ... as I was looking for a bit more penetration. I felt at times we probably needed that type of footballer that would be able to get it in there quickly,” he said.
“Our goal came about from his really aggressive approach and his speed to close the ball down.
“It was a lot better than last week. Now it’s just about building on it and turning it into a win.” WHAT more is there for Besart Berisha to win in the ALeague after claiming his fourth A-League crown?
Kevin Muscat has the answer. “A fifth one,” the Melbourne Victory coach said.
Muscat may have some convincing to do, however, if he wants to keep the competition’s most prolific striker, who dropped a massive hint about his future straight after Saturday night’s 1-0 grand final over Newcastle.
The 32-year-old was asked by reporters if he would be sticking around in Melbourne for another year, but provided a curiously cryptic response. “I’m going to ask you guys this question now. What else is (there) to win in the A-League for me?” he said, with a giant smirk on his face.
Berisha still has a year left on his contract as a marquee player at Victory but has been linked with a move overseas, with clubs in the Middle East and China believed to have shown interest in his services.
It would represent a richly-deserved late-career payday for the Kosovo international, who has dominated the A-League since arriving in 2011 with Brisbane Roar.
Told of Berisha’s postmatch comments, Muscat struggled to interpret them and was reluctant to talk about what the Victory squad might look like next season. “How can I answer for him? In moments (like that), everybody’s emotional,” he said.
“Let’s try and remove the emotion from it. So much went into the last few weeks.
“For us to do it from fourth and then having to go away to Sydney and Newcastle, you wouldn’t have read about it.
“It’s strange how small groups of committed people forge history.”
Berisha won two titles with Brisbane Roar and claimed his third the season after moving to Melbourne.
Saturday marked the first time he’d played in a grand final without scoring. But he said it ranked as one of his greatest achievements given the way Victory recovered from a horrendous start to the season and a litany of different challenges throughout.