Melbourne Victory skipper Kevin Muscat says the club is chasing redemption in Wednesday night’s must-win AFC Champions League clash against Gamba Osaka at Docklands.
Describing Victory’s 5-1 away loss to the Japanese powerhouses in the first game of this ACL campaign as the toughest night in his time at the club, Muscat wants to banish that memory with a win in his farewell appearance on home soil.
“It was probably the lowest point of being at the football club, the way we performed … we really let everyone down on the night,” Muscat said.
“We’ve identified where we think we got beat in the first game against them and watched the last two games also.”
“They are a very good side and without doubt the best side in the group, but they are beatable. We’ll have to beat at our best to get a result and the right result is three points.”
The landscape has changed dramatically since that horror night in Osaka with Ernie Merrick replaced by Mehmet Durakovic as coach.
Since he took charge, Victory has garnered four points of a possible nine to ensure their hopes of progressing past the group stage remain alive.
Gamba coach Akira Nishiro is well-aware his side won’t be able to enjoy a comfortable evening Down Under.
“The Melbourne team is very powerful and well-organised,” Nishiro said.
“They have a new coach and the formation has changed to what they played at Expo (Gamba-s home venue).”
Durakovic exuded confidence when asked about the task awaiting Victory at home and declared winning their only option.
“We need three points,” Durakovic said.
“If we get three points, we can go back to work on what we have to do against Jeju away. Then everything’s in our hands.”
“Gamba is one of the best side’s in Asia, so we have to be really careful of the way we approach the game, we are a good side as well, so it should make for a very good game.”
“We’ll take it a bit cautious, but we’re going to attack and score goals, that’s what we’re all about. The last two games we’ve got some fantastic results and we’re going to build on that.”
Durakovic revealed the three forced changes to his starting line-up in the absence of Grant Brebner, Surat Sukha and Robbie Kruse, who all miss the match through suspension.
Danny Allsopp comes in for Kruse and is set to start alongside Archie Thompson in a 4-4-2 formation boasting a diamond midfield, meaning Carlos Hernandez is likely to drop into a right winger role.
Diogo Ferreira will Brebner’s boots as a holding midfielder, while Vargas is a straight swap for Sukha at left-back.
Gamba travelled to Australia with their strongest possible squad including star midfielder Endo and Brazilian striker Adriano, who has been banging in the goals at both J-League and ACL level, but coach Nishiro admits the long trip from Japan may prove a factor in the match.
“When Melbourne came to Expo, the time difference and long flight meant in the first 15 minutes they didn’t perform as well as they would have liked,” Nishiro said.
“I’m worried that the same thing doesn’t happen to us tomorrow night.”
