Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic declared winning the only option when they host Gamba Osaka in a Wednesday night AFC Champions League showdown at Docklands.
Melbourne Victory coach Mehmet Durakovic declared winning the only option when they host Gamba Osaka in a Wednesday night AFC Champions League showdown at Docklands.
Victory needs maximum points against the Japanese powerhouse to keep their hopes of progressing from the group stage alive and Durakovic says the home side will stick to their attacking instincts.
“We need three points,” Durakovic said.
“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.”
“We’re going to approach it with a positive attitude.”
Having been on the wrong end of a 5-1 scoreline when they last met Gamba in the ACL opener, Durakovic is well-aware of the potency the Japanese possess.
But the reality is, this version of the Victory team is different to that which experienced what Kevin Muscat described as the ‘lowest point in his time at the club’.
Since the former Socceroo defender replaced Ernie Merrick following that defeat, Victory has garnered four points from a possible nine and playing a different brand of football.
Gamba Osaka coach Akira Nishiro has witnessed the changing landscape at Victory – not just the new man at the top, but the different formation played under Durakovic, noting Melbourne play with greater width and a back four.
Durakovic has been forced to make three changes to the team that defeated Tianjin Teda 2-1 a fortnight ago with Grant Brebner, Surat Sukha and Robbie Kruse all missing through suspension.
Danny Allsopp comes in for Kruse and is set to start alongside Archie Thompson, with Carlos Hernandez dropping back into a right winger role.
Diogo Ferreira is to fill 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.
The match also marks the final appearance on home soil for Kevin Muscat, who was given the honour of being captain by Adrian Leijer.
Durakovic has known Muscat for the best part of two decades, having been team-mates at NSL club South Melbourne during the early 1990s.
“I’ve known Kevin Muscat for a very long time and the guy’s been a true legend of the game,” Durakovic said.
“Kevin Muscat is Melbourne Victory and always will be, what he’s done, not just on the pitch, but off the pitch. He is a true legend of Australian football and going to be sorely missed.”
