Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou says his players are raring to go for the Hyundai A-League finals series, beginning with their elimination final against Perth Glory on Friday night.
Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou says his players are raring to go for the Hyundai A-League finals series, beginning with their elimination final against Perth Glory on Friday night.
After finishing third during the regular season, Victory are two wins away from a fourth grand final appearance.
Speaking at the launch of the finals series at Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, Postecoglou said Victory were aiming high and the squad was eager to get going in knockout competition.
“Other clubs will probably be rapt to finish third, we haven’t been. We want to be top every year,” he said.
“When you put it against that measure, maybe people are underplaying how good we are, but that’s fine with me as well.
“I’d rather go in there with people underestimating us than thinking we’re going to take it all before us. I’ve been very hard on the players this year and they’ve come through it.
“I’ve been very pleased with the way they’ve come through it and I can tell you one thing – they’re ready for finals football.”
Victory returned from their 3-2 win over Wellington on Sunday with no fresh injury concerns heading into the finals series.
The revamped series means one of the top two are no longer guaranteed a spot in the decider, which Postecoglou said gave teams placed third and fourth a greater chance.
“I guess it’s an interesting finals series this year where I think third and fourth are probably in a better position in this kind of finals series than probably in the previous ones,” he said.
“I know people are saying it gives fifth and sixth a chance and it certainly does but realistically to win it from fifth and sixth you have to win three games in a row away from home.
“Third spot was very important for us. We’re still a sneaky chance to host a grand final if the stars align.
“All those kind of things become important but really, with the nature of being cut-throat, you can only really focus on the game at hand.”
Postecoglou said making the finals was the minimum target for Victory and believes challenging for the championship should be the goal every season.
“A football club is designed to be a successful one and that’s the nature of being part of Melbourne Victory,” he said.
“We’re certainly looking forward to participating in the finals series and challenging for it because last year was obviously a disappointing year for the club not making finals and making finals is the absolute bare minimum.
“We need to be challenging for it meaningfully every year and we think we’re a good chance this year.”
