The Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United are set to clash in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash and Ange Postecoglou says his team is eager to test themselves in a big game.
The Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United are set to clash in a mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash and Ange Postecoglou says his team is eager to test themselves in a big game.
The Roar are playing their third game in eight days after posting a 1-1 draw with Sydney FC and then becoming the first team to beat Welllington on their home patch in 24 games.
The landmark win in New Zealand moved the Roar to the top of the table, breaking Adelaide’s hold on that position.
Brisbane’s run to the top has been made all the sweeter given their demanding playing schedule but Postecoglou believes his men have the legs to answer the call once more at Suncorp Stadium on Saturday.
“We’re good,” declared Postecoglou on Friday.
“Obviously still a little bit fatigued, it was a long trip yesterday. They were a little bit tired today, and lethargic, but by the end of the session they were pretty chirpy, so we’re confident with that.”
“I’m confident in our physical conditioning. The boys finished both games this week so far really well, even Wednesday night, and they’ve reported that they’re all ready to go again.”
“It’s a funny one, because every team we’ve played in the midweek fixture has been coming off the bye and kind of complaining about rust, whereas we’ve been playing and people are wondering if fatigue will catch up with us – we seem to play better. “
Roar captain Matt McKay was taking confidence into the game, backing his men to match the task of outgunning one of the best attacking sides in the competition after besting the Melbourne Victory 2-1 on the back end of their last triple-header.
“We’re extremely fit – probably one of the fittest in the League – and we showed against the Victory that we can grind out results after a tough schedule, so it’s been another tough schedule, but we’re ready for it.”
“Obviously we’ve got that No.1 spot now and we want to hold on to it, so it’s a very important game in that respect,” said McKay.
The Roar haven’t wanted to get ahead of themselves at any point of their brilliant start to the season, but McKay admitted they were looking at the clash as a preview of finals football.
“Ange has been telling the boys that we want to play in front of big crowds in games that really matter, and this game will matter, so continue that and we’ll be having some bigger games later in the season,” he said.
“It will be (a psychological advantage) later in the season if we’ve beaten them, or beaten them a couple of times in the season. Going into finals, that’d be a good scenario.”
If Brisbane trump Adelaide they cement their status as the team to beat and continue a brilliant unbeaten run at home.
But Postecoglou says the pressure will be on United, who face a tough road trip and a red-hot side, all on the back of their first loss.
“I guess this is Adelaide’s first test as well. They wouldn’t want to lose two games in a row, because then it starts to put pressure on you as a team.”
“We’re expecting them to come out firing, so it’ll be a good test for us,” Postecoglou said.
