Sydney FC have announced their squad for their upcoming Asian Champions League campaign, with two notable absentees.
Jacques Faty and Filip Holosko have been left out under the AFC’s allowance for only three foreigners.
Holosko’s omission has been put down to a hamstring injury that has niggled the marquee man all season, while sturdy defender Faty has been left to concentrate on A-League duties.
However, coach Graham Arnold says the decision was a mutual one and that both parties were keen to avoid long-distance travel.
“I’ve spoken with all of the players and they are all good with the decision,” Arnold said.
“I’ve picked the squad based on trying to succeed in both the Champions League and in the A-League.
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“There’s going to be a lot of travel and a lot of games in a short period of time and we have to be very careful how we use the players so they don’t break down.
“Filip has struggled getting used to the hard pitches in the A-League this season having come from Europe and has been nursing a niggling hamstring injury all campaign.
“He wants to concentrate on the A-League season and get used to playing on the hard pitches. After speaking with him we both felt that he would be best served saving himself for the A-League and avoiding the long travel which could put his whole season in jeopardy.
“He is a power player with a bigger frame and the travel combined with the heavy schedule would have caused him a few problems.
“We brought in David Carney which provides us with ample cover on the flank, and we still have Christopher Naumoff, Andrew Hoole and George Blackwood who can play there as well.
“Jacques is equally happy with avoiding the long travel and preserving his body to win the A-League title and again we have a big squad to cover his absence.
“They understand that it’s a difficult decision and one we have made with the ambition of winning both competitions. It’s been explained to them clearly that they aren’t being dropped or disrespected.”
Sydney FC open their ACL campaign in Japan against Uruwa Red Diamonds on 24 February before tackling Pohang Steelers of Korea and reigning Asian champions Guangzhou Evergrande.
Sydney FC AFC Champions League Squad: 1.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 4. Zac ANDERSON, 5.Matt JURMAN, 6.Robert STAMBOLZIEV, 7.Andrew HOOLE, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 10.Milos NINKOVIC, 11.Christopher NAUMOFF, 12.Jacob TRATT, 13.Brandon O’NEILL, 14.Alex BROSQUE, 16. Riley WOODCOCK, 17.David CARNEY, 18.Matt SIMON, 20.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 22.Ali ABBAS, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 24.George BLACKWOOD, 25. Aaron CALVER, 26.Max BURGESS, 27.Mickael TAVARES, 28.Alex MULLEN, 30.Antony BOUZANIS.
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