Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has acknowledged tomorrow night’s game against Sydney FC has a lot more significance because of the team’s position on the ladder.
It has been a roller-coaster ride at times this season for the blue and white side of Melbourne, with a stirring start to the season preceding an interval of consistent losses on the brink of the new year.
The Victory boss was adamant this morning that his team is more than capable of beating any opposition this season and had every right to be after last week’s 4-0 demolition of Brisbane Roar.
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A-League – Match Preview – Melbourne Victory vs Sydney FC
Should we be convinced after just one game? Muscat was certainly cautious and believed they could fall prey to any side should they show up with the wrong mindset on the day. A three-goal deficit overcome in Geelong against Central Coast two weeks ago was the catalyst for Melbourne Victory’s wake-up call
“If not all of it is down to attitude, we found and we took some lessons from one game of football, I suppose in two contrasting halves, if your attitude is not right, everything else like ability isn’t worth much,” Muscat said.
“I think since (the Central Coast game) our attitude has been spot on and then after that, when your attitude’s right, all of those things like ability, tactics and structure and things like that come into play and it’s been pleasing for us.”
Melbourne Victory has been averaging a goal every 20 minutes over the last few weeks and look very dangerous with their attack. In hindsight Melbourne Victory had been playing decent football, even in the games they were losing in the lead up to Christmas, the Victory coach recognised the lack of reward for effort in their unsuccessful matches.
“Prior to (the 3-3 draw with Central Coast), we’ve been playing some good stuff and not getting the return of points for the performances,” he said.
“You get that like cold water hit you in the face in that first half and the reality of saying ‘we’ve got to pull our finger out here’, which the group has done.
“We’re getting some bodies back now, we’re almost back to full complement, there are competition for places increases once again and that leads to forcing you into these situations because performances is what keep you in the team.”
Victory sit fifth on the ladder and could potentially rise to third and draw level with Sydney should they win tomorrow night. The fixture looks set to see over 35,000 people at Etihad Stadium on a red-letter day in Australian history.
“We understand in terms of the competition and the table it’s a big game, it’s the first time Sydney have been back to play us here in Melbourne since the grand final so there’s a lot of things we can elude to,” Muscat said.
“We’ve got one focus, and that’s got to be tomorrow night’s game, there’s no better time and now it’s become a tradition in the sporting calendar in Melbourne, Australia Day against Sydney.
“It’ll be a massive crowd, Etihad will be a sea of blue tomorrow night and we want to send everyone home with a smile on their face.”
With Melbourne Victory regaining a number of players from the Olyroos, Kevin Muscat said a number of players are still yet to return, but Jason Geria and Scott Galloway arrived back in Melbourne but are unlikely to play tomorrow night leaving a chance for Stefan Nigro to replicate his stellar performance from last week.
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