Western United star Lachie Wales joined The Green Room on FNR Football Nation Radio on Wednesday night ahead of a huge week for the Green and Black.
Wales is preparing to travel to New South Wales with his teammates as the side takes on his former side in Central Coast Mariners on Saturday before a trip to Newcastle Jets on Wednesday.
The 24-year-old has three goals and five assists to his name this season in his joint-most productive season to date.
Wales spoke on The Green Room about his form this term, ambitions of winning silverware in Green and Black, his homecoming in Gosford and more.
On whether he feels he has made a significant step in this season
“This is the campaign where I’ve played the most games. Under John and the coaching staff, my role has been really simple. When you have good coaching and good players around you, it’s easy to do your role each week. Sometimes as an attacker its hard, you think you’re playing well and maybe statistics don’t show that. It’s been an awesome year, and with the team doing so well it does get you noticed.”
On playing more often as a No.10 this season
“It’s been good playing a bit more centrally. With the injury to Dia (Alessandro Diamanti) we’ve kind of shared the load in there. It’s not completely new to me but it’s been really enjoyable, it’s a similar role for me in there anyway in terms of the pressing and making forward runs from that position.”
On reading into the statistics and breaking his drought in Tasmania against Perth
“It’s a funny one – statistics in football, commentators and people are a lot into statistics. Last year I scored more goals but I’ve been playing a lot better this year and hadn’t scored. The first one I knew nothing about which is probably just what I needed, that little bit of luck and the relief kind of goes out of your body. For me, the individual goals or things like that don’t really matter. We have such a good opportunity as a team to win something. At the moment we’re trying to win the Premiers Plate and it would be awesome if we could do that as a team.”
On receiving the trust of John Aloisi and his coaching staff
“For young Australian players, it’s just getting that consistent run of games. To start 22 games or 23 games in a row and to have the trust of the coach to not be sitting next to him next week if you have a bad game, I think that’s been the best thing for me. Your body almost adapts to the games, you find yourself in those situations a bit more where you’re one-on-one with the keeper, or your final product (is improving). When you’re in that winning environment, it’s a lot easier as a young player to bring your energetic game which is what I have.”
On returning to his home in Gosford
“It’s an awesome place. To grow up in Gosford, in Terrigal – I was there till I was 19, went to school there and made so many friends. All my family still live down there. My upbringing as a kid was awesome, living on the beach and playing all different sports. They (family) get to watch one game a year now and I’m sure they’ll be all out there, you’ll definitely know about it they’ll be making some noise! Without the Mariners I don’t think I would’ve ever got a chance in the A-League and I’m really grateful for that.”
On staying focused on the next match amidst the fight for the Premiers Plate
“We’ve avoided talking about, if we win three, or if this happens if this happens, because the A-League has been so funny this season that if you don’t treat every game and prepare for every game well, you’re not going to be able to win. The boys have been relaxed, we do definitely realise the Mariners can hurt us, especially up top with Cummings and Urena.”
