Canberra product Steve Lustica would have been happy to see out the season with Adelaide United, but now finds himself 180 minutes from winning an A-League championship with Brisbane Roar.
Speaking for the first time since his controversial departure from United in February, the midfielder made it clear he wanted to remain in Adelaide for the rest of the 2013-14 campaign, but was pushed out after signing a two-year deal with the Roar from 2014-15.
Lustica does not hold any grudge against United or its flamboyant coach Josep Gombau, instead putting his energy towards helping the Roar win its third championship in the past four seasons.
"I was happy to stay with Adelaide United until the end of the season and made a lot of friends there,'' Lustica said. "I had a good offer to go overseas, but my first intention was to sign with Brisbane Roar next season.
"Circumstances didn't allow me to remain at Adelaide until the end of the season and I joined Brisbane earlier than expected."
The Roar claimed the premier's plate and will host Melbourne Victory in Sunday's preliminary final at Suncorp Stadium.
Lustica had a loan spell with the Roar last season before he signed a one-year contract with Adelaide for the 2013-14 campaign.
He is aiming for his first title, after he was part of the Roar side last season that bowed out in the finals.
After completing his loan spell, Lustica rejoined his Croatian club Hajduk Split, which granted him a release to join Adelaide in September.
He was a regular part of the United side until he revealed he had signed a deal to join the Roar the following season.
"It's been an up and down season for me in a way,'' he said. "I was enjoying my football in Adelaide and relishing my role in the midfield, but I came back to the Roar earlier than expected.
"I'm concentrating on the Roar and winning a grand final with Brisbane."
Lustica has nothing but praise for Gombau, the Spaniard who guided United to the finals in his first campaign in the A-League.
"I had a great relationship with Josep, he's a quality coach,'' Lustica said. "It's been shown during the season, they've played some great football at times.
"He's got a lot of knowledge from his time in Barcelona and he's definitely passed that on to the players."
Capped 21 times by the Young Socceroos, Lustica played his junior football in Canberra and spent time at the ACT Academy of Sport before going through the youth ranks at Sydney FC and the now-defunct Gold Coast United.
Lustica has been fighting for his spot in a competitive Roar midfield, which has fired on all cylinders this season under coach Mike Mulvey.
"Mike Mulvey has a great philosophy about the way football should be played and this season's results have confirmed his ability as a fantastic coach,'' Lustica said. "I'm now at Brisbane again and I think it's the best football team in Australia.
"They've proven it over the last few years and I'm happy to be a part of it."
