Victory coach Tony Popovic's SAVAGE takedown of former Socceroo following Melbourne derby: 'I would have mentioned a lot of other players'
- Reporter thought Arzani had an outstanding half
- Popovic said he would have mentioned other players
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Melbourne Victory coach Tony Popovic has had an awkward encounter with a journalist asking about former Socceroos wunderkind Daniel Arzani following a derby 0-0 draw against Melbourne City.
With Bruno Fornaroli (hand) sitting in the stands, Victory had 17 shots (six on target) to City's six (three) at AAMI Park.
Popovic was none-too-pleased when asked whether his side were 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 evenly balanced. I thought the last derby was evenly balanced. I thought we were very good today.'
![Coach Popovic didn't seem overly impressed with Arzani's performance](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/19/23/81465281-13102255-image-m-20_1708386616674.jpg)
Coach Popovic didn't seem overly impressed with Arzani's performance
However, Popovic bristled at a suggestion from a journalist that winger Arzani had an 'outstanding first half' before he was replaced.
'Outstanding first half?' Popovic asked the reporter.
The reporter explained that Arzani looked like he was creating opportunities on the pitch.
'That's good,' said Popovic. 'That's your view.
'I would have mentioned a lot of other players apart from Daniel Arzani from that performance.
'A lot of players.'
The reporter tried to further explain his position, but Popovic continued.
'If you watch the game of football you would have mentioned Ryan Teague, you would have mentioned Fabian Monge, you would have mentioned Roderick Miranda, Damien de Silva, Jason Geria.
![Popovic said he would have mentioned a lot of other players before Arzani](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/20/00/81465303-13102255-Popovic_said_he_would_have_mentioned_a_lot_of_other_players_befo-a-17_1708387869434.jpg)
Popovic said he would have mentioned a lot of other players before Arzani
![Popovic said Victory players Ryan Teague, Fabian Monge and Roderick Miranda would have been mentioned in front of the former Socceroo](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/02/19/23/81465307-13102255-image-a-23_1708386977772.jpg)
Popovic said Victory players Ryan Teague, Fabian Monge and Roderick Miranda would have been mentioned in front of the former Socceroo
'The list can go on.'
Arzani was picked for the 2018 World Cup as a teenager but a knee injury months later started a run of struggles with form and injury that hampered his crack at the big time.
After yet another injury cruelled his return campaign in the A-League with Macarthur last season, Arzani signed for Melbourne Victory.