JDL MEDIA

Paul Izzo admits that his history with Adelaide United did briefly give him pause before signing with Melbourne Victory, but he holds no regrets as he soaks up the atmosphere of his first Melbourne Derby week. 

Izzo, 27, signed a three-year contract with Victory ahead of the 2022-23 season, joining as a free agent after a two-year stint with Greek side Xanthi FC, where he had played under current Victory boss Tony Popovic before his abrupt exit in February 2021. 

Prior to his move to Europe, however, Izzo played nearly 100 games for his hometown club Adelaide United – Victory’s foes in the A-Leagues’ bitterly contested ‘Original Rivalry’. 

“Yeah, look, I would be lying if [the rivalry] wasn’t on my mind [when he signed],” admitted Izzo. “But, at the end of the day, I need to pay my mortgage off! 

“But I’m really happy to be here and it just adds that extra bit of spice when that game comes around, I guess.” 

Quickly established as the number one at the four-time A-League Men champions, Izzo was between the posts for Victory’s opening two fixtures of the season: a win over Sydney FC in round one in which he took great pleasure in taunting the Harbousider’s fans as he time-wasted late in the game, and a round two defeat to Western Sydney Wanderers. 

And the big games keep coming for the keeper, with Melbourne City waiting for him and his teammates this Saturday evening at AAMI Park. 

“It’s really exciting,” he said. “I’m used to being on the couch watching it on TV and seeing the standard and the atmosphere every time the derby comes around. I’m really excited to be a part of it and get to feel it. 

“I’m loving [life at Victory]. I definitely understand the kind of ‘big club’ mentality that’s here; there’s a lot of pressure off the field with such strong support that we have. 

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“It’s a different pressure and I think it’s a big attraction for players to come to Melbourne Victory. For me, I’m really enjoying it.”

After getting their season off to a strong start against Sydney, Victory crashed back down to earth in their home opener against the Wanderers: failing to register a shot on target until second-half stoppage time en route to a 1-0 defeat. 

Striker Nick D’Agostino admitted on Tuesday that the playing group had “copped it” from Popovic in the aftermath of that game, and Izzo admitted that it was a merited baking.  

“It was deserved. I couldn’t find a reason to disagree with him on anything,” he acknowledged. “I think he hit the nail on the head pretty much. 

“It’s down to us to get a reaction, not only for ourselves but also for the amazing and loyal support we have. What a week to turn things around – a derby.”

While Victory will try to get their high-powered attack back firing for the derby, Izzo and his defensive teammates will have their hands full looking to contain City’s own embarrassment of riches up front. 

Jamie Maclaren, Mat Leckie, Andrew Nabbout, and Valon Berisha have started the season strongly for the defending premiers, so strongly, in fact, that fringe-Socceroo Marco Tilio has been restricted to a bench role in the season’s opening fortnight. 

“I just take it like any other game,” Izzo said of facing City’s attack. “Obviously it’s a derby and you want to perform the best you can but for me, you don’t want to put too much stress on ‘I’ve got to look out for this guy, or that guy’. 

“I’ve just got to treat it like any other game and let my performance speak for itself. That’s the main focus. 

“[Maclaren is] a great player. There’s a reason why he’s scored so many goals. It’s not going to be easy, but we know if we do everything to the standard we hold then we’ll make things as difficult as possible for him and any other striker or attacking partnership in the league.”

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_{Header Image Credit: Melbourne Victory}