Tomi Juric says he is hungry to help bring down Juventus to kick-start a huge month for him with the Foxtel A-League All Stars and club side Western Sydney Wanderers FC.
The striker will realize one of his childhood dreams on Sunday when he takes the field against the Italian champions at ANZ Stadium.
A fan of the Bianconeri ever since his “idol” Zlatan Ibrahimovic played there, Juric will now go head-to-head against the famous club and its cavalcade of stars.
It’s the first big game in what is a massive few weeks for the 23-year-old, with the Wanderers also involved in the Westfield FFA Cup against Adelaide City and an ACL quarter-final tie with Guangzhou Evergrande.
Despite fears a thigh injury could shatter those plans, Juric insists he is ready to fight on all fronts in his ‘Super August’.
“My fitness is up from last year a lot and I’m feeling good. This (thigh injury) was just a little tiny setback and the media’s blown it up a little bit,” Juric told www.a-leagueallstars.com.au.
“I certainly hope I will be involved in everything. I want to go back and do an important job for my team, which is to get a good result in the FFA Cup and in the ACL.
“It’s an important month for us and myself as well, having wanting to play every single game.
“Coming up against opposition like (Juventus) is a great challenge and something I’m definitely looking forward to. You always want to play against the best players in your career so I just want to get out on the pitch.”
Juric admits Juve’s batch of Italian international defenders including Giorgio Chiellini and Leonardo Bonucci will be arguably the toughest task of his young career.
But it’s not every day you can take on a team with such pedigree and one the youngster has supported for the last few years.
“It all started when Zlatan (Ibrahimovic) was playing there. He’s one of my idols I look up to,” Juric explains.
“But only for what he does on the pitch, not really for what he does off it. Ever since he played for them I followed them closely.
“He’s a different level when you think about it and put the stats together. He’s just someone who does amazing things with the ball. It’s a show pretty much.”
The FOXTEL A-League All Stars will meet Juventus at ANZ Stadium in Sydney on 10 August with the match to be broadcast live and exclusive on the Seven Network nationally.
