Melbourne Victory’s title defence has not gone exactly how they would have liked.
With three games remaining, Victory sit in sixth spot on the table, clinging onto the last finals berth with fellow strugglers and 2014-15 grand finalists Sydney FC still breathing down their necks.
Things do not get any easier for the defending champions in the season’s closing stages, with a trip to Wellington and a home meeting with Brisbane Roar set to back up Good Friday’s showdown with Western Sydney Wanderers.
The travelling Wanderers will arrive in Melbourne perched atop the A-League standings, one point ahead of both Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar and full of belief.
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Their position and confidence is in a complete contrast to Victory who are struggling for form and were today hit with the news that Brazilian midfielder Gui Finkler will leave the club at season’s end, with Wellington Phoenix the destination.
Despite Kevin Muscat’s side’s struggles, Wanderers captain and manager Nikolai Topor-Stanley and Tony Popovic insist they are still expecting to be tested by it. Coach Popovic says it would be “crazy” to take the Victory likely.
“We’ve always maintained our respect for Melbourne Victory as a club and them as a team. If you look at their list on paper, you’d be crazy to underestimate them,” Popovic said.
“They’re also fighting hard for something, they’re fighting to get into the top six, to cement themselves in there.
“We will get what we expect: a team that will be ready, very good footballers.
“It’s up to us to try and nullify them as much as we can and continue on the play that we’ve been showing.
“Knowing Kevin (Muscat) … knowing the players that they have and how much they’ve achieved, I’m sure they’ll be relishing this challenge.”
Like Popovic, 100-game Wanderer Topor-Stanley insisted the ladder leaders would leave no stone unturned at AAMI Park against a Victory team that Muscat declared would be high on personnel changes.
Our skipper will be playing his 100th A-League match in Red & Black tomorrow: https://t.co/4uurPo7N2H #WSW pic.twitter.com/80xtJNmyyT
— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) March 24, 2016
“(It’s) a huge match up against a quality opposition that have maybe underperformed this year, but we certainly won’t be underestimating them in any circumstances,” Topor-Stanley said.
“They’re the defending champions for a reason, they’ve still got plenty of firepower and talent in that squad to win games, so like every game, we’re going to approach it leaving no stone unturned and go for the three points.
“I’m expecting a very tough game. They might not be where they want to be points-wise, but they’re still a very dangerous team and they’ve still got many dangerous players in that side that can hurt you.
“Playing at home as well, I’m sure they’ll lift a few gears and they’ll be wanting to push their cause to make the finals as well.
“Every week it’s going to be tough and it’ll be no different against a Victory who’s got a lot to prove.”
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