Western United’s Garuccio: ‘There’s Fire in the Belly’

Western United arrived in Hobart today to prepare for their A-League football clash against Western Sydney Wanderers at North Hobart Oval tomorrow. Local journalists Alan Whykes (Tasmanian Times) and Walter Pless (freelance) interviewed WU defender Ben Garuccio after the club’s afternoon training session at the ground.

Walter Pless – Journalist

You’ve had a look at the venue a little bit, what do you think?

Ben Garuccio

Yeah, it’s beautiful. The pitch is really good. It was nice and wet, they watered it before the session, the ball was moving well. So looking forward to tomorrow.

Tasmanian Times

It’s been two weeks since your last match. Has that been a bit of an opportunity for the group to reset after the first half of the season that probably wasn’t what you wanted?

Ben Garuccio

Yeah, not a reset as such, just training hard. I suppose the last couple of weeks without a game gives you plenty of time to prepare for Western Sydney. I remember clearly the last, I think probably all the boys will. And I think that’ll be a bit of fire in our belly for tomorrow.

Walter Pless – Journalist

That will be a tough one because they’re third and you’re last. How do you think you’ll go?

Ben Garuccio

I see it as every game is winnable in this league, especially this year with how tight the competition is. So there’s no reason why we can’t get three points.

Walter Pless – Journalist

You’ve played overseas Ben. What do you think of the A-League as a competition?

Ben Garuccio

I think the A-League’s very good. Probably the most disappointing part is the way the following has sort of gone a little bit downhill in recent years.

I look back at the quality when I first came into the league and I think it’s improved a lot now, to be honest. I think there’s excitement in the games, there’s so many goals.

I’m a massive advocate for the league. I can’t see why it’s not supported like it is overseas in European countries. I think A-League’s really, really good quality.

Walter Pless – Journalist

What do you think you gained out of playing for (Scottish football club) Hearts, for example?

Ben Garuccio.

Ben Garuccio

I think the competitive nature that maybe us Aussies aren’t accustomed to with the way the league is set up here with no promotion or relegation. I think really seeing that ruthlessness of fans over there; they won’t accept you being at the bottom of the table. Which is something that probably a lot of Aussies actually struggle with. I definitely struggled with it, I’m not afraid to say, and I think a lot of Aussies do. And that’s why we see a lot of them coming back. We’re not accustomed to that here, we’re not used to it. And then when you go over, it’s sometimes a big shock. There’s a lot more pressure on the line when you’re playing for a big club you may be on the verge of getting relegated.

Tasmanian Times

Western United have scored 10 less goals than any other team in the A-League so you’ve obviously got a problem there. What do you put that down to? Is it a structural thing, a finishing thing, or is it a matter of teamwork? And how are you going to fix it in the second half of the season?

Ben Garuccio

As long as we’re creating the chances I think you’ve got to remain positive. I think when you’re not creating any chances and you don’t even look like scoring, then it’s probably a problem. But you know, the coach always says I can deal with people missing chances, and it’s part of football. I’ve missed plenty. Strikers miss plenty. If we keep creating the chances, then the goals will eventually come. I think our XG (expected goals) was, you know, one of the higher in the league. You’ve got Wellington who are bottom for XG and they’re right at the top of the table. So it’s just one of those things; sometimes it doesn’t fall for you. Hopefully in the second part of the season it does start falling for us.

Walter Pless – Journalist

Were you surprised with the new rule that they don’t go on goal difference? That confused everyone didn’t it?.

Ben Garuccio

I see it from I suppose both sides. I think if there was a team that went through the season as invincibles and didn’t win the league it would be pretty heartbreaking. But also the team that wins the most amount of games, I suppose that is just as important. It’s a tough one. I kind of see it from both sides. I hope no one goes invincibles and doesn’t win the league because I think there’d be a bit of an uproar but I can see now from the other side of the view that, you know, if you win as many games as you can and you win the most amount of games in the league, then that’s also no mean feat. And that’s very hard to do.

Walter Pless – Journalist

Would you like to see a Tasmanian team in the A-League?

Ben Garuccio

I think as much growth for this league is going to be better. I would love to see a league one day with 20 teams and you’re playing 38 games a season like overseas. For me, we need more games. It used to be a 27 game league, now it’s a 26 game league. I don’t really understand with more teams in the league how there can be less games. I would like to play more games and have it a little bit more traditional. So I’m open.

Obviously there’s been Auckland, there’s talk of Canberra, I think Tassie is a great market for it. Every time we come here, it’s a good atmosphere. There’s plenty of great stadiums around so I’d love to see it.

Match Information

Western United v Western Sydney Wanderers, North Hobart Oval, Hobart, Saturday 27 January 2024. Entry from 16:00, kick-off 17:00.

Tickets: Adults $20, Concession $15, Child 4-14 $10, Family (2+2) $40, available at the gate or online.

WU coach and former Socceroo John Aloisi with young fans after the training session.