'I've lost trust in VAR': How all A-League managers reacted to Round 4

Sydney FC 4-1 Central Coast Mariners

Patrick Kisnorbo (Sydney FC):

"I think we started really well. We had momentum through the game. There was a lapse of concentration and we've got to do better in those moments. I think we need improvement in everything. Even in the second half we gave them a couple of chances - there was a header they missed from six yards.

"Great win with some great goals, but I think we could do a lot better. Today you see what kind of work we've been doing, and the fruits of the labour, but we need to push more and we can keep improving in all areas."

John Hutchinson (Central Coast Mariners):

"We've conceded two goals from inside our attacking 18-yard box - the second and third goals. One's a corner and one was in our possession and all of a sudden it's in the back of our net. It's tough to take. It's a harsh lesson for these boys but hopefully one that they grow from. 

"We've got to teach them where it went wrong. Sydney FC were clinical in the box and we were not. I think we had more shots and more chances. As much as a 4-1 scoreline doesn't reflect the game for me, it's something we need to deal with and move on with. 

"I actually thought the officials had a good game. 100% not blaming them for the result tonight. I wish I could. I haven't looked at (the penalty) exactly and I'd need to take another look at it. 

"It's a game of football in the end. I look at football differently. I love coaching these boys. I think they're amazing young men. But we're not saving lives at hospital in the end. We're just playing a kids sport. How fortunate am I to get paid to coach a kids sport with some wonderful athletes around me? I'm hurting for my staff around me, but the sun's going to come up tomorrow and we're going to get back on it."

Auckland FC 0-0 Wellington Phoenix

Pedro Moreira (Auckland FC):

"Happy for the improvement from the boys but not happy for the result, because it was completely unfair what happened in the game, especially in the second half when we dominated the game. 

"I'm happy about the performance. We missed two really important chances so that's probably what we need to really improve on in the future. The difference between the second and the first half is important for us. We were completely dominant in the second half and I think that's really important for us going forward.

"If you analyse last week's game in Newcastle and today's game, it was completely different. We controlled this game and we didn't offer up chances. A lot of times I'll say to you I think it was a fair result, but I think today was an unfair result.

"When these boys can increase their confidence I think we will also increase the quality in the chances we create and increase our points output."

Chris Greenacre (Wellington Phoenix):

"A point away from home is a good point. I think we've got to start somewhere. We hadn't even been in front before in an away derby. I think the game in the end had everything and that's what the fans want to see. 

"There were key moments where we stopped moving the ball like I wanted to, going more direct when I would have liked to have kept the ball. I'm not sure why the players made that decision - maybe with the wet pitch it was about risk and reward.

"I'm pleased with the way we created big moments in the first half, and then in the second half they did the same, so maybe a draw is a fair result. Either way, a clean sheet away from home is really important.

"We'll get a few bruised bodies back on their feet during the international break and then we'll go again."

Melbourne City 2-1 Western Sydney Wanderers

Aurelio Vidmar (Melbourne City):

"I thought we started really brightly. The first 20 minutes is the kind of football we should expect moving forward. But then we just turned the ball over too often in the last 15-20 minutes of that first half. We were rushing. 

"But we managed to hang in there. Awer (Mabil) getting sent off put us under a little bit of pressure, but the way we fought the last 15-20 minutes of so was very gutsy. (Mabil) has apologised to me and the group. You can't have that type of ill-discipline in a team sport. He knows he put the team in jeopardy, but it is what it is and you move on.

"We look a little bit different from previous years. So far this season we've been able to win a little bit differently. Even when we're on the ropes we're able to score against the run of play. There's a lot of belief and we knew today we were going to take a couple of punches and we knew we would have to hit back twice. Call it ugly, call it whatever you like, but it's three points."

Ufuk Talay (Western Sydney Wanderers):

"Offside is black and white at the end of the day. Last week, I don't believe it was black and white - even the footage I got from the Head of Referees, it didn't seem black and white. Regardless of it being a goal or not being a goal, I've lost my trust in that space anyway, so it doesn't really matter.

"Probably the first 15 minutes they started a lot more quicker and more intense than us. After that I think we've felt comfortable, created a lot more chances and the momentum shifted again a little bit from conceding what I believe was a very poor, soft goal. 

"I still think we had the ascendancy moving forward despite (City) going down to ten men. It always makes things more difficult when a team goes down to ten as they always want to drop back and protect the space, so we had to try to break them down and we made some attacking changes. I don't think we utilised it as good as we could have but we created enough moments to get something out of the game.

"I think we weren't ruthless in front of goal. A bit more composure and better decision making with the final pass would have definitely helped."

Perth Glory 2-1 Newcastle Jets

Adam Griffiths (Perth Glory):

"We had a really good performance against Adelaide and really wanted to back that up tonight in front of our home fans and give them something to smile about.

"We really like we wanted to get at the game and take it to Newcastle. They're a quality team with a lot of good players. I thought we were really dangerous on transition and could have got them three or four times in the first half, but missed a couple of passes that didn't eventuate into anything. But overall, I was happy.

"We've been looking after (Kucharski) with his workload. I was adamant I would take him off in the 55th minute even though he could have got a hat-trick. He's a really important player for us and we're trying to bring back more bodies to strengthen the squad. 

"What I saw tonight was a whole of group performance with a great mentality. Every single player worked very hard both defensively and in attack, so I was really happy with that."

Mark Milligan (Newcastle Jets):

"From our football, we created opportunities. I think we had enough opportunity to take something from the game. We definitely had enough of the ball in good areas. What's becoming clear to me is that, whilst we are in a little bit of a rut in terms of results, the belief is there and the football is there.

"We've got a long time now to really finetune some things. But the belief I see in them is there, because I see in the 93rd minute us trying to play our football to score goals. It's now a matter of time before it all starts to come together and we get not just the football but the results.

"We knew it was going to be difficult juggling multiple competitions. The turnover of players makes it difficult. In terms of where the players are at and embedding the new players, their understanding is more than there. They're making the football their own. 

"We had to make a lot of changes which doesn't help, but we're not looking for it to be easy. I saw us trying to be the team we need to be tonight."

Macarthur FC 1-2 Brisbane Roar

Sasa Ognenovski (Macarthur FC):

"I don't think we handled the conditions well as what we should have. When you concede two easy goals like that, that's a good place to start to try and fix things.

"We started playing some good football and created numerous chances but didn't take them. I think they had three shots on target for the entire game and scored two. In a nutshell, I think that was the entire difference.

"We just need to be a little more clinical and composed in the final third. We're not attacking the right areas. The ball flashed across the goals a couple of times or we just didn't have the bodies in there to attack the ball as hard as we would have liked.

"We've got some players coming back from injury (during the international break) so that's a bonus for us. We can do a little bit of defensive work and work on how we score goals as well."

Michael Valkanis (Brisbane Roar):

"Winners are grinners when you get three points, especially away from home against a team that were unbeaten. Today they showed how defensively organised they are. We knew it was going to be difficult. They were physical, they were aggressive and in the second half they played some good football.

"We're so happy to go away with the win. We had some big chances that we should have put away and maybe the game would have been a bit different, but overall I can't be happier. 

"Windy conditions also makes it very hard to play the type of game we want to play, so in the end I'm very happy.

"We've been playing good but during the international break there are plenty of things to work on. It's a marathon, not a sprint."

Adelaide United 2-2 Melbourne Victory

Airton Andrioli (Adelaide United):

"I think the first half was a bit cagey and not the nicest game of football, but we were happy to go ahead. Second half, I think we were in control of the match. It's been happening too often that we have been our worst enemy when we're in control by making mistakes. Before I knew it, we were 2-1 down. 

"At the end of the day, maybe it was the right result for this match. I can't do anything about the past. We only look forward. This was our first point in the A-League and it was a difficult match to play, but both teams were in the same situation in terms of long travel. 

We were happy with the draw in the end but were hoping we could have rewarded our supporters who came in big numbers. We'll take the point and move on, but we need to rectify the consistent errors we are making during good moments of the match. That's something where we need to be better and where the boys need to grow up, stand up and be men."

Giovanni Savarese (Melbourne Victory):

"It was an enjoyable derby. People had been talking to me about how amazing this rivalry is, and they were right. It was a beautiful stadium and a great atmosphere, so it's been a good experience to be a part of it. The game was a battle and a tough match. 

"I think they had the better of the first half and we had the better of the second until the red card and some (12 minutes of stoppage) time that I don't know where it came from.

"Our players are growing and becoming better and learning more and more every game. We've been playing a lot of matches and it's not easy, so we've had to rotate a lot. At the end of the day, we see the players coming in and making a difference. Valadon has been one of those players. Every performance of ours is better and better."

Aaron Murphy has been with Flashscore since 2018 and, as the founding editor of the Australian newsdesk, has reported on-site at several major events in Melbourne including the Australian Open, State of Origin, A-League, NBL and international cricket. You can read his pieces here and contact him on X or LinkedIn.