Western Sydney star Nicolas Milanovic reckons getting "kicked back down" had to happen.
An older and wiser Milanovic is back in the A-League Men after a humbling season battling in the "dog-eat-dog" Scottish Premiership.
The western Sydney local had left for Aberdeen off the back of a career-best 2024/25 campaign, with the door seemingly ajar to the Socceroos and a World Cup debut.
Leading the Wanderers to a fourth-placed finish under then-coach Alen Stajcic, winger Milanovic was crowned the Johnny Warren medallist - the league's highest individual award.
A championship would have been the perfect ending to that A-League Men chapter, but the Wanderers fell short after an elimination final loss to Melbourne Victory.
His brilliance at the domestic level earned him his maiden Socceroos call-up, with Milanovic coming off the bench during 2025 Soccer Ashes series against New Zealand for his debut.
Now gearing up for the 2026/27 season, Milanovic has yet to add to his two Socceroos caps after enduring a rollercoaster ride in European football.
The 24-year-old's run at Aberdeen came to a halt when Jimmy Thelin was sacked as coach in January.
"The experience as a whole was a real eye-opener. It's a dog-eat-dog world out there," Milanovic told AAP.
"I never got a look-in once he (Thelin) left. I'd break in and then another coach sacked, and it was just chaos."
In the end, the winger played 23 games across all competitions before returning home in July on a three-year deal.
"The whole reason I've come back is to get on my feet," Milanovic said.
"To battle challenges and face adversity that I haven't faced before - in the A-League, I rose up and rose up and rose up and got to the top.
"So to be kicked back down is really good for my development, and good for the team, because now I can be a leader."
Western Sydney have also endured chaos since Milanovic's departure.
Just like Thelin, Stajcic was axed in January after a string of poor results.
But the club's fortunes continued to nosedive, and the Wanderers slumped to their maiden wooden spoon under interim boss Gary van Egmond.
Former Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay has been given a two-year contract to try and revive the fallen ALM giants - something Milanovic feels is already beginning to happen.
"Last year was a hard watch. I felt really upset for the boys because I could see they were trying hard," Milanovic said.
"Uffie is a coach that we saw at Sydney, how he likes to play - old school, sprint, run, tackle.
"I don't want to give too much away, but … everything's at 100 per cent.
"He's brought that club culture back. I give him thanks for that because it's a real direction."
And while he has his eyes firmly on Friday night's season-opening Sydney derby, Milanovic is determined to get into the Socceroos squad for the Asian Cup.
Milanovic has no time to waste in convincing Popovic for a spot in Saudi Arabia, with the tournament to get underway in January.
"I've now scratched the surface, and I've got my two caps," Milanovic said.
"Two's not enough. That's just who I am.
"I've been out of the picture now for six to eight months, but it's not playing on my mind that much because I know what I'm capable of.
"If I'm firing, I don't think there's a problem with me coming back into the national team."