Melbourne Victory defender Nick Ansell says he feels “privileged” to play alongside veteran defender Matthieu Delpierre, gaining vital experience from the Frenchman’s exploits.
Victory defeated Chinese Super League powerhouse Shanghai SIPG on Wednesday night 2-1 thanks to goals from starting debutant Jai Ingham and Besart Berisha either side of Wu Lei’s equalising strike.
Ansell’s block on the half-hour mark proved crucial in the build-up to Victory’s opener. His block off an Elkeson strike rebounded to Olly Bozanic, who slid through an excellent ball to eventual goalscorer Ingham.
Amid a wave of constant pressure from SIPG and their star foreign trio of Dario Conca, Elkeson and Asamoah Gyan throughout the match, Victory’s defenders stood tall, led by central pairing Ansell and Delpierre, who made a number of vital interceptions in the air and on the ground to maintain the hosts’ toehold on the game as well as two leads.
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The 22-year-old labelled Delpierre’s experienced head on and off the pitch as a “huge boost” to his own performance and overall game, having been together for a season and a half. Delpierre led Stuttgart to the 2006-07 Bundesliga title and played 162 matches for the German side.
“It’s a massive boost playing alongside Matthieu,” Ansell said.
“I’ve said it numerous times, he’s a world-class defender. Everyone talks about these players but we’ve got Matthieu Delpierre whose won Bundesliga, captained that team (then-champions VfB Stuttgart) as well. It’s quite an achievement.
“He’s a world-class player and I’ve learned a lot playing alongside him and he really helps me out.
“I’ve learned loads. The last couple of years playing alongside him have been a privilege.”
Yet despite the challenge that presented itself for Victory, Ansell says he was never overawed by the occasion or SIPG’s star-studded attack.
“At the start I wasn’t really thinking too much about it. Obviously there was a lot of hype about their strikers. I wasn’t too bothered with all the fuss about them.
“I just went into it like a normal game.
“It’s great to play on players like that as well, they’ve got some world-class strikers.”
After one matchday, Victory sit atop Group G as the sole winner thus far following Gamba Osaka and Suwon Bluewings’ goalless stalemate.
Victory face old foes Sydney FC on the weekend at AAMI Park before travelling to Japan to tackle Gamba, still in search of a maiden away win in the Champions League.
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