Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Nicolas Milanovic doesn’t want special treatment in his return to the A-League, a competition he dominated before a humbling fall from grace during a disappointing spell in Scotland.
Milanovic rejoined Western Sydney on a three-year deal in July just 14 months after leaving the Wanderers to sign with Scottish Premiership club Aberdeen.
However, the winger who won the Johnny Warren Medal for being the best player in the 2024-25 A-League season failed to deliver at the Dons, scoring just one goal in 23 appearances – only 10 of which were starts – in all competitions for the club.
It was a forgettable stint that also ended any hopes Milanovic had of being selected in Australia’s squad for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
“When I started my career just in the A-League, it only went up, soared, and didn’t stop, and Aberdeen kicked me back down,” he said.
“I’d never been kicked down to the bench, taken out of the team and told I’m not good enough in years.
“I think that was really good for me. It’s going to make me a better player in the long run – for sure.”
Among the factors in determining now much “better” Milanovic becomes will be the competition for places in the Western Sydney squad for the new A-League season, which kicks off on October 16 when the Wanderers travel to Allianz Stadium for a highly anticipated derby against Sydney FC.
Milanovic, who turns 25 next month, doesn’t want to be gifted anything by Wanderers coach Ufuk Talay, believing that would work against him.
“I told him (Talay) I don’t want favours … otherwise, you’re not going to get the best out of me,” he said.
“I need competition. I know what I can do … (but) when I’m fit and firing, confident, and playing in a system that suits me, which I think this is, it’s not really about being the best player of the season.
“It’s more so that we have multiple players of the season in one team, which I think can carry us all the way this year. I really do.”
Going “all the way” would be a remarkable resurgence for the Wanderers considering they finished with the wooden spoon last season.
“When I left, the club was in a good spot, and when I’ve come back now, it’s in a good spot, so that part in between, when I wasn’t here, was disappointing,” Milanovic said.
“Last place isn’t where Wanderers want to be, so it was a tough watch, but I think ‘Uffie’ has been a massive shining light.
“I’m very optimistic for this season.”
The Wanderers announced on Friday that Westfield had become a co-major partner of the club and would feature on the front of Western Sydney’s home jersey for the upcoming A-League season.
The upgraded partnership with Westfield came after the club’s announcement in August that its sponsorship agreement with Bathla Group had been terminated following the company’s entry into voluntary administration.
“When the opportunity arose for Westfield to step into the co-major partner position, they stepped forward at an important moment for our club,” Wanderers chief executive Scott Hudson said.
“That says an enormous amount about who they are as an organisation and the relationship we have built together.”
