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Milestone Muscat out for derby delight

5th February, 2015
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Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has called on his team to start their A-League title charge by beating Melbourne City on Saturday night.

The third derby of the season arrives early in the calendar but at an important juncture for both Victory and City.

Victory were early pacesetters but have wobbled in their last outings, losing to City and Perth Glory.

And after a slow start to City’s season, John van’ t Schip needs points to lock up their finals position.

Ahead of a match that begins the 12-week charge to the finals, Muscat was talking more like an army general than a football coach.

“We’ve had some time to reflect and regroup,” he told AAP.

“We’ve prepared ourselves to have a real assault.

“It’s tightly poised, it has been for a few weeks.

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“But we know we’ve got improvement in us, so let’s achieve that improvement and see where it takes us.”

Muscat notched up a milestone 50 games in charge of Victory before the A-League’s Asian Cup hiatus.

It’s easy to forget that Muscat is quite new to the coaching game.

The 41-year old has been a central figure in the A-League since season one but only assumed the senior coaching position during last season.

He’s now clocked up 50 matches in charge of Victory, with last month’s 3-3 draw in Perth match No.51, and has a record most coaches would be proud of.

That record – 24 wins, 13 draws and 14 losses from 51 matches as senior coach – doesn’t satisfy Muscat.

“14 losses? That’s 14 too many,” he said.

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“We need to make it 25 wins this weekend.”

If his side is short of inspiration for the task, the exploits of Muscat’s predecessor in the Victory hotseat should provide plenty.

Ange Postecoglou’s heroics at the Asian Cup should resonate most strongly at Melbourne Victory, where Postecoglou last coached before taking on the national team.

Almost every player on the Victory list has played under Postecoglou either at a club or national level.
Muscat, who was Postecoglou’s assistant at Victory, said the attacking intent was a parallel between the two sides.

“I’m now genuinely excited to watch the national team play,” he said.

“I can see them playing with a style, I appreciate that kind of football, always on the front foot … living on our feet, not dying on our knees.”

The second-year coach and passionate supporter of the code was moved enough to issue a plea to fans to make the most of the world game’s time in the spotlight.

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“Get out to the A-League this weekend, go and support your local team.

“We’ve got to make hay while the sun shines.”

Milestone Muscat: Half a century at Victory’s helm
41 A-League matches – 19 wins-11 draws-11 losses

7 Asian Champions League matches – 3-2-2

3 FFA Cup matches – 2-0-1

Total: 24 wins, 13 draws, 14 losses

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