Melbourne City youth coach Joe Palatsides has admitted to rarely having a bad day with his young charges this season, and after sitting second on the ladder and just beating top-of-the-table Perth Glory, his sentiments are justified.
Hernan Espindola’s double was enough to see off table-topping Perth Glory on Sunday, with City closing the gap at the top to two points.
Palatsides was pleased to see his side recover and improve from the Sydney clash last week where his side conceded two stoppage time goals to give up a seemingly unassailable lead and escape with only a point.
“After last week especially where the boys battled so hard, we were depleted in terms of numbers as well, we worked really hard and we thought we were hard done by, being down with nine players, two red cards and two penalties,” Palatsides said.
“So it was important we bounced back this week and I thought I saw a complete performance by the boys against [Perth], they’re top of the ladder and they’re a very, very good team, and it was very good to see us perform with that standard against a really quality opposition.”
However, the former defender was quick to dismiss talks of his squad being the best in the competition just yet, adamant there was still room for improvement despite his squad’s progress this season.
“We’re more concerned with how we can get better. But up to this stage, when we play the top of the table teams, that’s the true test for these boys, and when we see that they play at a high level against the best at the moment, that’s a good sign,” he said.
“But youth football’s different to senior football, there are more ups and downs and we have to make sure that we just concentrate and try keep consistent performances and at the same time develop.
“However, at this stage I’m very pleased with the boys, there hasn’t been a game that I’ve left disappointed with them, except for maybe the [youth] derby.”
It was a weekend to savor for Melbourne’s Sky Blues as the senior side also prevailed in a thrilling derby, and Palatasides admitted that while senior results may not affect how the youths’ line up and play on match day, they do partially dictate the mood in camp, with a buoyant atmosphere currently emanating around the club.
“We’re one big family, so obviously the shop window’s the senior team – when they do well, we’re all up and about, but even if they’re not doing well, we try to do well,” he said.
“So the mood and the atmosphere around the club’s great, we all thought it wouldn’t be too long before we hit our straps in the seniors well, but as a group obviously we do feel better, but it doesn’t deter the boys from going out on that field and giving their best performance.”
Palatsides reserved special praise for Hernan Espindola, who was the undoubted hero on the day with a classy brace.
“Hernan’s probably had the best year he’s had for a long time, it hasn’t been just this game, it’s been previous games, he’s been one of our best players,” he said.
“He’s in his last year of the Youth League, he really wants to show and he’s really taken full advantage of that at the moment and if he keeps going, the senior team is on the next pitch there.
“He’s not the only one, we’ve got a lot of good players in the Youth League and we’re pretty proud of the way they’re coming about and developing.”
City play another home game on Sunday against Brisbane Roar at La Trobe’s Lower Playing Fields. Kick-off is scheduled for 3:00pm on Sunday.