They are former team-mates and still close friends but Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic says he hopes he can spoil Harry Kewell’s farewell party this weekend.
They are former team-mates and still close friends but Western Sydney coach Tony Popovic says he hopes he can spoil Harry Kewell’s farewell party this weekend.
Wanderers head to AAMI Park to play Melbourne Heart on Saturday night in what will be Kewell’s last match before retirement.
While Heart’s finals hopes ended a few weeks back, they will want to send the Socceroos legend out on a winning note as well as get off the bottom of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
“He’ll want to go out on a high I’m sure. He’s had a fantastic career and it’s been a pleasure playing with him and watching him over the years,” Popovic said of Kewell on Tuesday.
“I hope he has a good game when he plays but at the end it I’ll be happy with him playing well and us getting the three points.
“It will be a difficult game and [Kewell’s farewell] will present us with a different type of challenge.
“They will want to finish on a high and will want to win for Harry. We expect a good crowd and it’s a game we look forward too.”
Wanderers have their own motivation for taking all three points, with victory to assure the club of second spot and a week off in the opening round of the finals.
The tight nature of the ladder means any side from the Wanderers down to sixth-placed Sydney can still finish in second spot.
Popovic is delighted his side have their fate in their own hands but admits they can’t take anything for granted.
“It’s in our control and that’s positive but as you can see anything can happen from second to sixth,” Popovic said.
“If we go out with an outlook of desperation things can fall apart. We just have to concentrate on what we can control.
“That’s our preparation and making sure we perform on the day. We have a lot of belief even though it will be tough that we can get the three points that will get us that second spot.”
Popovic has done a superb job in a little under two seasons at the club, sparking interest in his services both domestically and abroad.
Contracted with Wanderers for another two seasons he insists he is keen to hang around and continue building on the club’s success.
“I’m certainly looking forward to building what we’ve started here at the club,” Popovic said.
“We want to get bigger and better. That’s something we will keep planning for after this season, [but] the immediate focus is on this game.”
Purchase your ticket for this Saturday’s match here.
