Daniel Mullen says Western Sydney Wanderers still have a couple more gears they can go up against FC Seoul as they aim to make the ACL final – and he hopes their loud fans can help them over the line.
The Wanderers arrived home this morning following their hard-earned 0-0 draw in their semi-final first leg in Korea on Wednesday night.
Coach Tony Popovic will give his side the weekend off before they return to training to plot a game plan that will ensure they get the result needed to make the final.
After failing to find the back of the net in Seoul, the first time they’ve been held scoreless in the competition, the Wanderers must win at Parramatta Stadium on October 1 to progress.
A score draw would see the Korean’s advance on the away goals rule.
“We’ve taken a lot of positives out of that game, we were under the pump quite a bit but withstood that pressure and we didn’t concede,” Mullen told www.a-league.com.au at Sydney Airport on Friday.
“And we know we have plenty more to offer, especially at home, attacking wise.
“We have to go out and win now. We know that because we didn’t score there if they happen to get a goal and its 1-1 they’ll go through.
“We’re going to go out on the front foot and play some attacking football….hopefully we’ll have a massive crowd behind us and be that 12th man.”
Helping the Wanderers’ cause will be the fact Popovic will have a near full-strength squad to choose from.
In-form striker Tomi Juric, Brendon Santalab and Shannon Cole are available again after missing the first leg through suspension and will add some much-needed firepower to the side.
“It’s going to keep (Popovic) nice and busy and give him a few headaches which is going to put some pressure on the boys which were in the starting XI the other night as well,” Mullen said.
There has been some reports the Wanderers will be forced to move any potential final berth away from their spiritual home to a bigger venue.
Asked about the prospect of being forced out of Parramatta to either ANZ or Allianz Stadium, Mullen said: “We’re just looking at this next game, there’s still a semi-final.
“The moment you start looking towards the future and the final then you forget what your main goals are. We’re going to take it one game at a time as usual and that’s two weeks’ time at Parramatta.”
