Victory coach Tony Popovic’s SAVAGE takedown of former Socceroo following Melbourne derby: ‘I would have mentioned a lot of other players’

Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic has had an awkward encounter with a journalist who asked about former Socceroos wonderkid Daniel Arzani after a 0-0 derby draw against Melbourne City.

With Bruno Fornaroli (hand) in the stands, Victory had 17 shots (six on target) to City’s six (three) at AAMI Park.

Popovic was less than pleased when asked if his team was unlucky not to win on Saturday night.

“I think if you watch the game you wouldn’t ask me that if we were the unlucky side,” he said.

“Sometimes you play a game and it’s balanced. I thought the last derby was in balance. I thought we were very good today.”

However, Popovic reacted angrily to a journalist’s suggestion that winger Arzani had an ‘excellent first half’ before being replaced.

‘Excellent first half?’ Popovic asked the reporter.

The reporter explained that it looked like Arzani was creating chances on the pitch.

“That’s good,” Popovic said. ‘That’s your vision.

‘I would have mentioned many other players besides Daniel Arzani from that performance.

‘Lots of players.’

The reporter tried to explain his position further, but Popovic continued.

“If you watched the football match you would have mentioned Ryan Teague, you would have mentioned Fabian Monge, you would have mentioned Roderick Miranda, Damien de Silva and Jason Geria.

Popovic said he would have named many other players before Arzani

Popovic said Victory players Ryan Teague, Fabian Monge and Roderick Miranda would have been named for the former Socceroo

“The list could go on.”

Arzani was picked for the 2018 World Cup as a teenager, but a knee injury months later sparked a series of form struggles and injuries that hampered his crack at the big time.

After another injury ruined his return campaign to the A-League with Macarthur last season, Arzani signed for Melbourne Victory.