Arthur Papas reckons a series of text messages between his assistant Shaun Ontong and young forward Nicholas Krousoratis sparked Green Gully's win over Melbourne Knights.
Krousoratis was lively throughout Gully's 3-1 victory to reach the FFA Cup quarter-finals, scoring the visitors' goal that put them ahead at half-time.
Gully's coach Papas was thrilled with the 22-year-old winger's performance, describing Krousoratis as an "exceptional talent", and paid tribute to Ontong's powers of persuasion in his post-match press conference.
Westfield FFA Cup Round of 16 MD 2 wrap
"With some nice persuasive messages to Nick, he agreed to start and he hasn't started a game for over three months and gave us a completely different element in the way we attacked," Papas said.
While Krousoratis shone for Gully, Liam Boland will dominate the headlines yet again after the striker notched a double to overcome Knights.
Boland was Gully's hero in the Round of 32, scoring a long-range stunner to eliminate Central Coast Mariners, and the Western Australian striker claimed he has dreamt of playing in the FFA Cup since it began.
"I've always wanted to be on the stage," he said.
"I love the big games and my mates are all real happy with how I'm going.
"But the team's been sensational. We've had a really tough couple of weeks, losing the Dockerty Cup final and then being knocked out of the [NPL Victoria] finals as well. So to bounce back from that has been huge."
Knights opened the scoring at home through Stipo Andrijasevic but had few answers as Gully surged back, with coach Andrew Marth claiming a lack of experience cost his team.
"Probably immaturity in the end cost us the game," Marth said.
"[We have] a lot of young players and you can't rely on young players week in, week out."
