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Was Adelaide United’s drubbing in the first leg of the Asian Champions League just a case of being outclassed by a better team on the night, or is it symbolic of the massive difference in financial clout between a salary capped A–League team against the unlimited budget of Asia’s best?
There can be no denying Adelaide were outclassed by the pace, slick passing and finishing of Gamba Osaka.
Adelaide, perhaps fatigued from its travels and battle weary after an agonising home defeat to Melbourne only days before heading to Japan, showed little in determination and the physical strength Australian clubs are renowned for in Asia on the continent’s biggest stage.
Even during the match, the post mortem on why Adelaide had been so overwhelmingly outclassed had begun and the consensus, pushing to one side the lacklustre on field performance, seemed to be the gulf between the salaries the two clubs have available to spend on their respective squads.
Next season A–League salary caps will increase to $2 million.
With expansion of the league already in progress and an economy in crisis, it is a necessity to ensure smaller clubs are not priced out of the competition.
But while it works for the A–League, it limits its clubs Champions League campaigns in both squad depth and the ability to sign big names.
So with such tight salary caps in place, will A–League clubs ever truly be able to compete against the might of Asia?
Consider also an additional effect that the Asian Champions League tilt will have on A–League sustainability. The campaign has increased the reputation of Australian players within Asia.
Already there is talk of Reds stars such as Travis Dodd and Sasa Ognenovski being head-hunted by Japanese clubs impressed by what they have seen.
Without the budget constraints of their Australian counterparts, J–League clubs have been known to offer big name players contracts in excess of a million dollars – half the salary cap for an A–League squad.
In addition, a recent change in the J–League will allow clubs to sign an extra import as long as they are from the Asian confederation.
With the Asian Champions League acting as a shop window for Asia to the quality of our home grown talent, how can A–League clubs hope to keep hold of these players when they cannot compete with the financial clout of Asia.
The successful move for clubs into Asia may have had one negative impact in attracting the unwanted attentions of cashed up clubs.
In order to grow as a sport within Australia, the A–League must retain its big names and homegrown stars.
With such restraints in place, can A–League clubs overcome the might of the J–League in the Asian Champions League?
It’s a case of whether a cashed up team of champions can outplay a champion team.
Underdog status is one that may force A–League clubs to rise to the occasion in the ACL and focus on skill, tactics and smarts.
As with Adelaide’s campaign this season, being the underdog may force the best out of them.
Let’s just hope the Reds show some of that form Wednesday night at Hindmarsh Stadium.