Melbourne Victory caretaker manager Mehmet Durakovic has backed his side to focus on the task at hand, despite several potential distractions surrounding his side’s must-win AFC Champions League clash with Jeju United on Wednesday.
Melbourne Victory caretaker manager Mehmet Durakovic has backed his side to focus on the task at hand, despite several potential distractions surrounding his side’s must-win AFC Champions League clash with Jeju United on Wednesday.
Having farewelled his home fans in the 1-1 draw with Gamba Osaka at Docklands last Wednesday, Kevin Muscat will likely bring his eventful career to a close at Jeju World Cup Stadium.
Durakovic’s men also know that a win over United will not guarantee their progression into the round of 16, with Victory needing Japanese outfit Gamba Osaka to lose at home to Chinese club Tianjin Teda.
And with key Jeju United striker Shin Young-Rok collapsing in his side’s K-League match with Daegu United on Sunday and remaining in a coma, lesser men could be driven to distraction.
Not Durakovic – even if he might be keeping one ear on Gamba’s fortunes, with their match beginning 30 minutes before Victory’s clash with Jeju.
“We just control what we can and go out on the pitch with our team structure and our formation and what we have to do,” said Durakovic, who is also preparing for what could be his last match in the head-coach role, should his side be eliminated.
“Their weaknesses and their strengths, we’ll have a team meeting tonight and go over that.”
“We just need the three points and then whatever happens, happens. We only control our destiny.”
Durakovic revealed Robbie Kruse would return to the starting line-up despite coming into the game under an injury cloud, with the Fortuna Dusseldorf-destined attacker a straight swap for the suspended Isaka Cernak.
Surat Sukha and Grant Brebner have also travelled with the squad after suspension, taking the place of ill duo Marvin Angulo and Tom Pondeljak.
Pondeljak was expected to make the trip to South Korea, only for him to suffer an allergic reaction to medicine used after a visit to the dentist.
Durakovic said his squad needed no reminding of Muscat’s retirement. The 51-cap Socceroo will step into a coaching role with the club after bringing a 22-year playing career to an end.
“They know,” Durakovic said.
“They know what Kevin stands for and what he’s done. The motivation was there last week and they came through with flying colours.”
“With a (bit) more luck we would have had a couple more in the back of the net last week, so hopefully we’ll have a bit more luck this week and get the three points.”
