Latest news with #MelbourneCity
The Australian
10 hours ago
- Sport
- The Australian
Australia Cup: Melbourne City suffers shock early exit
A-League champions Melbourne City have defended their controversial decision to field a youth team in the club's shock 2-0 Australia Cup loss to NPL NSW outfit APIA Leichhardt. Having entered the Cup at the round-of-32 stage, City's bid to reach the last 16 ended on Tuesday night in wet conditions at Leichhardt Oval. City's starting side included only one player – 19-year-old striker Max Caputo – that started in last season's A-League grand final, with the oldest player in the team being 21-year-old midfielder Alessandro Lopane. City's squad – which had an average age of 17.6 – was otherwise almost entirely made of teenagers, including 15-year-old substitute Akeem Gerald, from the club's NPL Victoria second division team. City's decision not to use almost all of the club's first-choice players led to accusations that the club had treated the Cup with contempt and had shown APIA a lack of respect. However, City's football director Michael Petrillo said the club had little choice but to field a team made up entirely of young players due to injuries and a late start to pre-season training. 'There was no way we were ready,' Petrillo said 'We came back to training really late (July 15). If it (the Cup game) was in maybe another two weeks, then we probably would have played another four or five of the senior players.' Melbourne City 15-year-old substitute Akeem Gerald (centre)_wins the ball during his team's 2-0 Australia Cup to APIA Leichhardt. Picture:Petrillo said the club wasn't willing to gamble on the fitness of players with City's AFC Champions League Elite campaign set to start in about six weeks' time. 'We would have played anyone that was ready but we didn't want to take any risks because we're a thin squad, we've got to play on two fronts (Champions League and A-League), and we need to make sure everyone's fit and well, particularly when we had a lot of injuries last season,' he said. 'We don't want to go down the same track again this season.' Petrillo was confident a host of regulars, including captain Aziz Behich, Joe Marston Medal winner Mathew Leckie, defenders Kai Trewin and Nathaniel Atkinson, midfielder Andreas Kuen and goalkeeper Patrick Beach, would be available for a couple of trial games City is hopeful of scheduling in late August. The club is also planing to sign two foreign attacking players in the upcoming weeks in a bid to further strengthen its squad. Australia Cup round-of-16 (games to be played August 9-13): South Melbourne v Auckland FC, Avondale v APIA Leichhardt, Brisbane City v Olympic Kingsway, Heidelberg United v Western Sydney Wanderers, Nunawading City v Wellington Phoenix, Sydney United 58 v Sydney FC, Cooks Hill United FC v Newcastle Jets, Metro Stars v Macarthur FC. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
News.com.au
16 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Melbourne City defends decision to play team of youngsters in shock Australia Cup loss
A-League champions Melbourne City have defended their controversial decision to field a youth team in the club's shock 2-0 Australia Cup loss to NPL NSW outfit APIA Leichhardt. Having entered the Cup at the round-of-32 stage, City's bid to reach the last 16 ended on Tuesday night in wet conditions at Leichhardt Oval. City's starting side included only one player – 19-year-old striker Max Caputo – that started in last season's A-League grand final, with the oldest player in the team being 21-year-old midfielder Alessandro Lopane. City's squad – which had an average age of 17.6 – was otherwise almost entirely made of teenagers, including 15-year-old substitute Akeem Gerald, from the club's NPL Victoria second division team. City's decision not to use almost all of the club's first-choice players led to accusations that the club had treated the Cup with contempt and had shown APIA a lack of respect. However, City's football director Michael Petrillo said the club had little choice but to field a team made up entirely of young players due to injuries and a late start to pre-season training. 'There was no way we were ready,' Petrillo said 'We came back to training really late (July 15). If it (the Cup game) was in maybe another two weeks, then we probably would have played another four or five of the senior players.' Petrillo said the club wasn't willing to gamble on the fitness of players with City's AFC Champions League Elite campaign set to start in about six weeks' time. 'We would have played anyone that was ready but we didn't want to take any risks because we're a thin squad, we've got to play on two fronts (Champions League and A-League), and we need to make sure everyone's fit and well, particularly when we had a lot of injuries last season,' he said. 'We don't want to go down the same track again this season.' Petrillo was confident a host of regulars, including captain Aziz Behich, Joe Marston Medal winner Mathew Leckie, defenders Kai Trewin and Nathaniel Atkinson, midfielder Andreas Kuen and goalkeeper Patrick Beach, would be available for a couple of trial games City is hopeful of scheduling in late August. The club is also planing to sign two foreign attacking players in the upcoming weeks in a bid to further strengthen its squad.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Celtic star's transfer exit BLOCKED by Hoops as Brendan Rodgers refuses to let player leave – until hurdle is overcome
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THERE'S been plenty of ins and outs at Parkhead already this summer - and more are expected in the coming days and weeks. But before one out-of-favour Celtic star is allowed to leave, another MUST come in. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 It's been a frustrating window for Brendan Rodgers Credit: Getty 2 Marco Tilio is far down Brendan Rodgers' pecking order Credit: Kenny Ramsay Marco Tilio is one player who's set to depart before the end of the window after failing to win over Brendan Rodgers following his return to Glasgow after his loan spell in Australia. The 23-year-old winger has been tracked by a number of clubs throughout the window, including his former club Melbourne City who want him back for another stint. Tilio, however, has made it clear that he wants to stay in Europe this year. That has sparked interest across the continent, but one club have been leading the race for his signature in recent weeks. read more celtic stories 'DELIVEROO TO CELTIC' Celtic ace says he delivered food on a bike a few years before Hoops Rapid Vienna - Nicolas Kuhn's old club - have been eyeing a deal for the Hoops outcast as they search for a replacement for ex-Celtic target Isak Jansson who joined Nice. It's believed the Austrian outfit are keen on signing Tilio on an initial loan with an obligation to buy next summer. Both Tilio and Celtic are hopeful of thrashing out a deal which allows him to become the Scottish champion's latest departure. There are complications, though, as Rodgers is seriously lacking wide options following the exit of Kuhn and Jota's lengthy injury lay-off. SunSport understands the 23-year-old will NOT be allowed to seal the move until Rodgers brings another winger in. The Hoops have been locked in talks with Dutch side Go Ahead Eagles for Jakob Breum but are no further forward in their pursuit having had TWO approaches booted out. Celtic loan star Marco Tilio scores a stunning goal on return to Melbourne City It's suggested that a bid of around £1.3million for the 21-year-old earlier this summer was "laughingly rejected" by his club. The Eredivisie side are standing firm on their £5m valuation of the payer. Another winger the Hoops have been long-term admirers of is Antwerp's Michel-Ange Balikwisha. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
The National
21-07-2025
- Sport
- The National
The move Marco Tilio rejected to head for Rapid Vienna
The 23-year-old Australian international has been given the green light to move to Austria on loan, with Rapid reportedly having an obligation to buy if he reaches a set number of appearances. He spent last season back in his homeland and Melbourne City conceded they couldn't persuade Tilio to return Down Under. Melbourne City Director of Football, Michael Petrillo stated: "Marco has been a tremendous player for our Club - not just for what he's produced on the pitch, but also for the way he's conducted himself as a professional. Read more: "He's played a major role across two successful stints with City and we've all enjoyed watching him develop into one of the country's brightest attacking talents. "While we were keen to extend his stay and continued discussions with Celtic, we fully support Marco's ambition to once again challenge himself in Europe. "We thank him for everything he's contributed to Melbourne City and wish him every success in the next stage of his career."
Sky News AU
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Sky News AU
Marco Tilio expected to join Rapid Vienna on loan from Celtic
Marco Tilio is set to join Austrian outfit Rapid Vienna on loan from Scottish giants Celtic, ending any faint hopes Melbourne City had that the Socceroos winger would return to the club for the 2025-26 A-League campaign. City coach Aurelio Vidmar last week said it was 'highly likely we won't have the return of Marco' after Tilio had spent the previous season and a half on loan to the Melbourne club, who are the reigning A-League champions. Since then, the 23-year-old attacking weapon was used as a second-half substitute by Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers in the Hoops' 4-0 weekend trial win over English Premier League club Newcastle United. However, reports suggest Tilio – who signed a five-year deal with Celtic in June 2023 – is heading to Vienna for a loan spell with Rapid, who finished fifth in last season's Austrian Bundesliga. Sky Sport has reported the deal will have an obligation clause for Rapid to buy Tilio if he makes 20 competitive appearances for the club. Celtic, whose reported loan fee is more than $710,000, will pocket about $2.6m if Tilio ends up joining Rapid on a permanent deal. City's director of football Michael Petrillo said: 'While we were keen to extend his stay and continued discussions with Celtic, we fully support Marco's ambition to once again challenge himself in Europe. 'We thank him for everything he's contributed to the Melbourne City and wish him every success in the next stage of his career.' Rapid's first competitive match of the new season is a Europa Conference League qualifier on Friday morning (AEST) against Montenegrin club FK Decic. A good start to the season will help Tilio's chances of being retained in the Socceroos squad for September's two matches against New Zealand in Canberra and Auckland. Meanwhile, former Melbourne City defender Scott Galloway has departed Auckland FC after just one season at the club. Originally published as Socceroos winger Marco Tilio set to sign loan deal with Rapid Vienna
