United dying to beat Roar, says Miron Bleiberg

Surely the defending champions with a record unbeaten streak would be the focus ahead of a clash with the wooden spoon favourites? Not when Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg is around.

The extrovert mentor effortlessly stole the limelight ahead of Friday night’s A-League derby at Suncorp Stadium, claiming people would be talking about him in 30 years’ time if United upset champions Brisbane Roar.

Never one to hide behind cliches, Bleiberg was at his vintage best on Wednesday – especially when asked how badly United wanted to snap the Roar’s 30-game unbeaten run.

Bleiberg likened the challenge to toppling Rafael Nadal or Roger Federer in tennis – but admitted he would only be satisfied with the “glory” of a win on Friday night.

“I didn’t want to use any cliches – we are dying to win this game because they haven’t lost for 30 games and because it is a derby,” he said.

“We are going for a win and a win only – we are going for the glory.

“There’s a chance to go into the history books – everybody will talk about who broke this record.

“Hopefully, in 30 years’ time, my name will be mentioned on this subject.”

Bleiberg didn’t just have the Roar in his sights, however.

The United coach also took aim at those who have dismissed his new-look outfit as wooden-spoon favourites – a far cry from their former A-League glamour club tag.

“It started with that (bookies) and continued with a lot of experts especially in the media,” he said.

“What do you know about soccer, you guys? But I don’t want to offend you.

“It could only happen in sport – in any other profession, if you talk rubbish, you are not called an expert any more.”

Not that Bleiberg wanted to steal the Roar’s thunder – he admitted he was “jealous” of their achievements which includes an Asian Champions League tilt this season.

“With our salary cap, it (Roar’s unbeaten run) is a greater achievement than usual – I would never have predicted it in the A-League,” he said.

The inaugural Roar coach, Bleiberg said he harboured no ill feeling toward his former side now they had scaled giddy heights – he just wanted to beat them.

“You can’t feel bad about them because they have a nice coach and they play well, they are not dirty – you can’t say ‘let’s kick these bastards’,” he said.

For a time, all understated Roar coach Ange Postecoglou could do was step back and watch Bleiberg work his magic at Wednesday’s joint media conference.

And he certainly didn’t try to upstage his rival when he was able to get a word in.

Inevitably asked about the streak, Postecoglou said: “We don’t want to let go of that record too easily because we have worked really hard.

“I am 100 per cent certain we won’t be in this situation again but we will lose some day and, when we do, we will still roll up to training the next day and keep going.”