Exciting attacking midfielder Marcos Flores says he is ready to produce the best form of his career after joining Ange Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory.
Exciting attacking midfielder Marcos Flores says he is ready to produce the best form of his career after joining Ange Postecoglou at Melbourne Victory.
Flores, 26, became one of the most high-profile signings of a busy off-season for Victory, as coach Postecoglou and football operations manager Paul Trimboli seek to build a team capable of challenging for what would be the club’s third A-League title.
Argentine Flores received rave reviews during a single season at Adelaide United in 2010/11, earning a lucrative transfer to Henan Jianye.
After struggling to earn a regular place at the Chinese Super League club, he jumped at the chance to return to Australia with the A-League’s biggest club.
“Obviously now I am under a successful coach and the team have great ambition,” Flores said.
“I expect to … give all that I have for my team-mates and try to win.
“I am really open to learn every day. I am 26 and when you are a soccer player until the last day you can keep learning.
“I have a good teacher, I have good team-mates and I will learn from my team-mates and I hope to give my team-mates something also.
“These years for me have to be the best years of my career.”
When asked about why he ended his stay in China with two years remaining on his contract, Flores said: “Not (everything) is about money. I didn’t enjoy the football. I am 26, and I am desperate to show what I can do on the pitch, playing.
“I looked (to) Australia because there is a league which has my respect, and also, when I knew there was a chance to join this team, I didn’t think two times.
Flores made just 15 league appearances for Henan Jianye, and while he said cultural differences proved difficult to overcame, football reasons were the driving force behind his decision to leave.
“It was tough, I didn’t like the rice, with the (spices),” he joked.
“That’s not an excuse. I respect the culture, it’s amazing. It’s really hard to adapt. But everything is about the team, the club. If you are not enjoying that, it’s impossible to enjoy the city.
“And that was the reason. I couldn’t fit my style in this football, in my team. I try really hard, until the 12th month, until my last day I was trying.
“I couldn’t make it (work) and we decide for both sides to move on.”
Postecoglou praised the Victory hierarchy for their quick work in securing Flores’ signature, saying the transfer was a ringing endorsement of the club’s ambition.
“With all my signings I’ve had the full backing of the board to make them,” he said.
“We had to move fairly quickly with Marcos … he was a wanted player and the board were great in supporting my decision. We’re very excited about getting someone like that onboard.
“We’re a massive club and we’ve got a massive following and our supporters would have seen some high-profile players leave the place over the last couple of months.
“But I think the signing of Marcos and Mark Milligan shows this club will always go after the best and I think that’s been backed up with these decisions.”
According to Postecoglou, he had little difficulty convincing Flores to become part of his latest project, and said the player’s desire to pull on a Victory shirt helped seal the deal.
“I had a conversation with him on the phone, painted the picture about what we are planning to do,” he said.
“Marcos had seen what had happened up in Brisbane. He appreciated the football that was played up in Brisbane and we’re going to play something similar down here. I think it suits him.
“From my point of view, there were obviously quite a few clubs who were after Marcos but after I spoke with him on the phone I felt like he was ready to come onboard. There wasn’t any doubt in his mind.
“That’s important for me as well, we targeted players who were desperate to play for Melbourne Victory and I think once we had the conversation Marcos was convinced to come here.”
