AAP
A-League All Stars coach Ange Postecoglou says an understrength side won't "park the bus" just to limit the damage against mighty English club Manchester United in their July clash in Sydney.
The All Stars fixture on July 20 will clash with the East Asian Cup finals tournament which runs from July 20-28 in South Korea.
And with Socceroos coach Holger Osieck expected to pick a primarily Australian-based squad of players, the All Stars could be robbed of up to 15 candidates.
Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop confirmed the Socceroos would have preference.
But Postecoglou was confident the A-League still had the depth to field a very competitive side.
"I think there's enough talent in our league," said Postecoglou, who is looking at a one-week camp for the selected players.
"If anything I think it gives us an opportunity to showcase some of the players who we believe may be emerging Socceroos.
"There's plenty in the league at the moment. You just have a look at the weekend.
"Terry Antonis was fantastic for Sydney, (Central Coast's) Bernie Ibini.
"Those kind of players. Aaron Mooy of Western Sydney.
"If they are not part of the Socceroos it gives us a chance to have a look at them at the highest level."
Postecoglou was excited rather than daunted at the challenge of beating one of the world's best club sides, but made it clear he wasn't interested in a damage limitation policy.
"We won't be parking an All Star bus," Postecoglou said.
"I think people who know me and have watched me coach the last few years know the type of football I want to play.
"I think sometimes in these games it should be a celebration of football.
"I don't want to go out there and stop Man United playing their football.
"I also want to showcase what we can do. There's no point us going out there with a conservative nature."
A two-time A-League championship-winning coach with Brisbane, Melbourne Victory's Postecoglou (36.8%) shaded Western Sydney mentor Tony Popovic (36.2%) in a fan vote of over 15,000 people to determine who will guide the All Stars.
The fan vote will also have a 50 per cent weighting in the selection of the squad, with 20 per cent going to an expert panel, another 20 per cent to the players via the PFA Team of the Year, with the remaining 10 per cent going to Postecoglou.
He will also have 100 per cent jurisdiction over an additional three players in the 18-man squad for the July 20 match at ANZ Stadium.
Gallop was adamant runaway English Premier League leaders United would bring their biggest stars like Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney to Australia.
No comments:
Post a Comment