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Fit Melbourne Victory out to take next step

Victory face a tough season opener against the Reds in Adelaide. (AAP Image/Joe Castro)
26th April, 2015
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A fit and fresh Melbourne Victory are ready to eliminate their semi-final demons of previous years when their A-League finals assault begins.

After falling at the semi-final stage in the last two seasons, coach Kevin Muscat will be eager to take the next step against either Wellington, Melbourne City or Brisbane in a fortnight’s time.

Muscat said this year’s challenge was “far different” from their previous two exits on the penultimate weekend.

“The last couple of years we got beat by the eventual champions,” he said.

“Both times 1-0. Both times away.

Indeed, the only constants from Victory’s last premiership side are Muscat and Archie Thompson.

While Muscat was restrained in his celebrations, the veteran forward was lively after the match – he grabbed the megaphone and chanted with the Victory fans.

Only Thompson knows whether his exuberance is due to an impending retirement call, but he’s certainly out to savour the present.

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“It’s a special moment, it’s been a long time,” Thompson told AAP.

“It takes a lot to win one of these, I know how hard it is.

“But I’ve had a good feeling since the start of the season with this group of players.”

With the notable exception of goalkeeper Nathan Coe, the entire group is fit for the finals.

Victory have won five of their last six matches as Muscat has rotated and rejuvenated his squad.

Fahid Ben Khalfallah was the most in need of a rest and got it on Sunday, rested as a precaution to avoid a suspension.

Muscat said benching the winger was a tough decision.

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“I’ve learnt very quickly you’ve got to remove all emotion in decisions,” Muscat said.

“He’s made a massive contribution and to tell him he wasn’t going to be involved was difficult.

The Tunisian replied by playing the fool on the bench, pretending to ready himself to be brought on despite knowing he wasn’t in Muscat’s plans.

“At one stage he went up to the fourth official and handed him his own substitute card,” he said.

Jokes aside, and trophy won, it’s business as usual – with recovery on Monday and training on Tuesday.

“I won’t give them days off, we’ve had a schedule in place for a while now,” Muscat said.

“The fact we haven’t got a game next week … we’ll probably train a little bit harder.”

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