Joe Lolley places much of the blame for his A-League Men on-field fall from grace last season on Sydney FC's decision to prioritise Brazilian superstar Douglas Costa.
Lolley, 33, was coming off a 2023-24 campaign where he was awarded the Sydney FC Player of the Year, Members' Player of the Year and the Alex Tobin Medal.
But Costa, a former Bayern Munich and Juventus playmaker, took on Lolley's mantle as Sydney's main attacking outlet, reducing the Englishman to more of a peripheral role.
"(Costa) is obviously so good, but I think it took away from my game," said Lolley.
"You just get frustrated, definitely it affected me personally.
"I didn't have the impact I would've liked to have had on the season.
"We lost that balance. I think we've learned a lot."
Lolley - who signed a two-year contract extension with Sydney in January - still produced 13 goals and nine assists in 37 matches across the A-League, Australia Cup and Asian Champions League Two, where Sydney were knocked out at the semi-final stage.
Costa was one of several marquee players the five-time ALM champions signed ahead of last season.
The 31-cap Brazil international was joined by compatriot Leo Sena, Polish striker Patryk Klimala and German-Moroccan attacking midfielder Anas Ouahim.
When Sydney's strongest line-up was available, Costa was the clear focal point in attack.
"I started on the right (wing) earlier on in the season … within not too long, I was playing as a striker, as a second striker, a 10 (attacking midfield), a left winger," Lolley told the Row Z Podcast hosted by Adam Peacock and James Dodd.
He was even twice deployed as a left-back - a position he had never previously played in his professional career - during the final rounds of the season as the Sky Blues finished outside the top six.
Lolley has already delivered a goal and an assist in the opening two rounds of this season playing in his favoured right wing position.
Into his fourth year with Sydney, he could become eligible to represent Tony Popovic's Socceroos should he file for Australian citizenship at the end of this season, similar to seven-cap Bruno Fornaroli.
"I think I'm too old to be honest," said Lolley, who could become naturalised after the 2026 World Cup.
"I'd be worried if they were asking and relying on someone like me."
After parting ways with Sydney FC one year into a two-season deal by mutual consent, Costa has returned home to Brazil but is uncontracted.
