'Serial winner' Brattan stoked to claim third Australia Cup crown
Only a very small group of players can say they have won the Australia Cup three times.
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In fact, only three people can claim that, and the latest to join the list is Luke Brattan after Macarthur’s triumph this season.
Brattan did create a first though, as he is the first player to win the Australia Cup with three different clubs.
Prior to him, Michael Jakobsen won the competition with Brattan at Melbourne City (2016) and twice with Adelaide United (2018, 2019), while Michael Marrone won it three times with The Reds (2014, 2018, 2019).
It was two firsts for Brattan then – he also became the first person not named Michael to win the Australia Cup three times.
Speaking after the final, he said it is a great feeling to win the competition with this group of players.
“It feels amazing, it was a tough game, and I think we can be better with the ball in play and be brave, but it's a cup final, you know they're going to be tough,” Brattan said.
“The boys were unbelievable all over the pitch, Filip (Kurto) made a few good saves, and we defended really well, so it feels great.”
Macarthur went into the game as underdogs as they had a few players out through injury and club captain Valere Germain was suspended.
Brattan said because the playing group is close-knit, they were able to band together for the challenge and he is so proud of them for that.
“I've only been here a short time, but the group are very, very tight, so obviously missing Valere was a big loss,” he said.
“He's one of our best players, our captain, so we knew it was going to be tough but I'm just super proud of the boys.”
Of course, he explained why, in his opinion, he has won the competition a record three times, and to put it simply it’s because he hates losing.
“I said to the boys before the game, it's tough to make (an Australia Cup final) so don't have any regrets and leave everything on the pitch,” he said.
“I just I hate losing, and I'm a serial winner, I'm not going to apologize for it.”
Perhaps that mentality could bode well for Macarthur in the A-League season just around the corner.
