Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou is an incredibly hard task master who’s impossible to please, Mat Ryan says, and the goalkeeper wouldn’t have it any other way.
The coach put his charges through an especially long, gruelling session on Saturday (Sunday AEST) as 3000 local fans watched on in a FIFA-mandated open training session.
“We’re here a bit early and putting in the hard yards now trying to get that extra edge in the fitness aspect,” Ryan said.
“A few boys were complaining about how hard it was.”
Postecoglou pulled various players aside several times throughout the session to offer them feedback.
Asked if the regular interruptions were because he wasn’t happy, Ryan said: “I don’t think I have known a happy Ange to be honest.
“He is very demanding and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It is the pinnacle of the game. We are going to have to be at the top of our game every second of every game.
“It’s very demanding but it is good for us to get to push ourselves.
“We don’t have luxury of being together and getting regular training so I guess he’s placing extra emphasis on the time we have together to try get across all the messages.”
Ryan, who made a name for himself at the Central Coast, has made a seamless transition from the A-League to Europe.
The 22-year-old was named goalkeeper of the year for his standout maiden season in Belgium’s top flight with Club Brugge – a season that has put him at the top of the Socceroos pecking order ahead of fellow shotstopper Mitch Langerak.
“I’m feeling an important part of the squad and I think my head is in a good space at the moment,” Ryan said.
He’s currently in negotiations with Brugge to extend his contract, although talks have stalled until after the World Cup, and Ryan’s been mentioned as a potential target for big clubs such as Real Madrid.
But even if his performance in Brazil is enough to draw other offers, Ryan admits it would be hard to leave the Belgian side that game him his break into Europe.
“Playing there I know I am always going to be in with a really good shot of playing Champions League football and contending for titles.
“Until a club comes up with something that can offer the same things…in football you never know, but I am pretty happy there and I can see myself staying there one or two more seasons.”
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