Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat isn’t asking his players to move a mountain, but they do have to climb one.
The Victory have arrived in China to play Guangzhou Evergrande in their Asian Champions League group stage opener on Wednesday night and Muscat says the challenge is immense.
“We’re well aware of their capabilities as a football team,” Muscat said on Tuesday.
“They’ve spent big in the last two or three years, the richest club in Asia.
“The fact we’ve drawn the current holders of the tournament adds that little bit.”
Italy’s 2006 World Cup-winning coach Marcello Lippi, a man with five Serie A titles to his name, is in charge of the Chinese Super League champions. He’s matched up against rookie coach Muscat.
“Their latest signing Alessandro Dimanti cost them seven or eight million euros,” Muscat said.
“It gives us an indication of what a mountain the boys have got to climb … if we truly want to be a big football team in our region, in Asia.”
Italian international Dimanti, an attacking midfielder, is expected to be marked by Leigh Broxham and Victory skipper Mark Milligan.
Brazilians Elkeson and Muriqui will be two of the home side’s attacking threats.
Guangzhou Evergrande reached the semi-finals of last year’s Club World Cup, losing to eventual champions Bayern Munich.
Muscat says the Victory’s good form, sitting third on the A-League table after last week’s 4-3 win over Adelaide, will count for little despite the fact Guangzhou Evergrande are still in pre-season mode.
“Early on, maybe they’ll be slightly rusty but … they’re a very good side,” he said.
Muscat says it’s disappointing to have Socceroo Tom Rogic on the sidelines with an ankle injury, although the Victory are confident their playmaker can be fit for Saturday night’s derby against Melbourne Heart.
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