Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic admits the Asian Champions League final has been his No.1 priority this season as he finally gets the chance to focus fully on Saudi Arabia’s Al-Hilal.
The Wanderers have endured a wretched start to the A-League losing their opening two fixtures and conceding seven goals in the process.
But domestic commitments are on the back-burner for the next two weeks with the first leg of the final taking place this Saturday at Parramatta Stadium with the return in Riyadh seven days later.
While the Wanderers’ recent form has been poor, in the ACL it has been magnificent.
A 2-0 second-leg win over highly-fancied Korean outfit FC Seoul last month booked their spot in the final, hot on the heels of victory in the quarter-finals against Chinese champions Guangzhou Evergrande, coached by Italian World Cup winner Marcelo Lippi.
Popovic’s side are only the second from Australia to reach an ACL final after Adelaide United in 2008 and the former Socceroos defender is desperate to do better than the Reds who were beaten 5-0 on aggregate by Japan’s Gamba Osaka.
“The Champions League final will always be number one, it’s our biggest prize, no A-League team has been able to do it,” Popovic told AAP.
“Only Adelaide has made the final. It’s not something that comes around regularly so we have to make the most of this opportunity and prepare fully to win.”
Al-Hilal arrived in Sydney via private jet on Monday flanked by heavy security before bunkering down in a luxury harbourside hideaway.
The team, who are coached by 39-year-old Romanian Laurentiu Reghecampf, have been training behind closed doors at Lambert Park, home of NSW Premier League side APIA Leichhardt.
Wanderers defender Antony Golec claimed on Tuesday he knew nothing about the Saudi giants, who regularly play in front of crowds exceeding 50,000 at King Fahd Stadium.
But Popovic said he’ll ensure his squad is fully briefed after assistant coach Trevor Morgan recently flew out to watch them play in a Saudi Pro League clash.
“You need to do your due diligence and you do the best you can,” he said.
“We flew over to watch FC Seoul in the last round as well. We have to prepare the best we can by leaving no stone unturned, but within the resources we have available.
“It’s challenging as well as exciting, but we’ll be ready.”
Al-Hilal are the most decorated side in Saudi Arabian football history with 40 domestic titles as well as two Asian club championships to their name.
Talismanic skipper Yasser Al-Qahtani, who scored 42 goals in 112 internationals for Saudi Arabia, leads the attack alongside Nasser Al-Shamrani, who found the net 21 times last season.
Saudi captain Saud Ali Kariri is the side’s midfield kingpin alongside classy Brazilian playmaker Thiago Neves, who cost the club $A10.50 from Bundesliga side Hamburg.
Several of the Al-Hilal squad will feature in Saudi Arabia’s squad for the Asia Cup early next year and Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas said his club have full respect for their opponents, but want to make life as difficult as possible at Parramatta Stadium.
“We wanted to stay true to our region and not move the game to a bigger venue like ANZ Stadium,” Tsatsimas told AAP.
“We have great admiration for Al-Hilal and their standing in the game. But this is seminal moment on the Australian football landscape and we are going to do everything we can to win.”
onside
Guest
Football is our life mean spirited.
Post hoc
Guest
Cmon you Wanderers, counting down the time for this, been to all ACL matches, without doubt the biggest day for our club, seems the press are starting to get behind it more as well. Something that i know Adelaide complained a lot about. 3 or more articles on News.com, there are two or 3 articles in the SMH. Two articles say almost the same thing, this needs to be used as evidence for a better Stadium at Parramatta.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Why should governments spend $50M plus on AFL parks for GWS in Blacktown and Homebush, which are rarely used, and not upgrade an existing sports stadium used all year round by NRL, A-League and Union and most of the population of Western Sydney. Its not WSW's stadium, they rent it from the state government. The agreement was negotiated with the PFA. The FFA's salary cap only refers to the A-League competition. Anything earned outside the A-League is a bonus and doesn't affect the result of A-League matches. You have to qualify to get into the ACL and only applies to a couple of teams.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Explanation : You aren't supporting us in the Final Series because we aren't the Victory isn't that so Fuss ? A curious state of affairs but ehy there it is -well we are big enough to not mind so much ;-)
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
I'm sorry Matthew, but I've got no idea what you're talking about. Care to elaborate?
SlickAs
Guest
1) Why should the government (and therefore the tax payer) buy an upgrade to Paramatta Stadium. The worst thing you can do is collectivise the costs, but privitise the benefits. WSW is a privately owned entity. They should pay for their own stadium upgrade. 2) How does splitting the prize money fit into the salary cap? Can you pay players on the side for ACL matches? That should mean that teams in the ACL can pay their players whatever they like and there essentially is no salary cap for them.
The Minister
Guest
That's a hell of a lot of c..k sucking...
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Sooooo Fuss you are giving the Finals Series your Official Royal Seal of Non -Approval then ? ;-)
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Excellent result for WSW, especially when you think that there aren't enough home stadium seats for all the members, so that's great dedication to the cause. I really hope it helps compel the state government to upgrade Parramatta Stadium to a greater capacity and better standard. Interestingly the WSW players have negotiated sharing in about half of the prize money if they win the ACL. Given WSW results in the earlier rounds and travel reimbursements, the club will receive $1.98M US if they win, but the players will get $905,000 of that to share between the squad of 22. Plus bonuses and sponsors endorsements, it will be a good pay day if they can get there. If they lose WSW still gets $1.23M US and the players get over $600,000 to share.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
1. I'd be surprised if any English football fan would want a rival club to win the UCL .. or any trophy 2. The clash with the Derby is absolutely of no significance. 3. Yes. And, I'd like MVFC to be the 1st Australian team to win the ACL. Just as my 'other team' ManU was the 1st English team to win the European Cup. As I said, I'm very appreciative of what AUFC & WSW have done for Australian football & the A-League to qualify for ACL finals. I've even cheered WSW in the knock-out stages. But, my support ended with the Semi-Final.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
I'm surprised you would say that, you actually want an Australian team to lose in an Asian competition? That comment isn't in the right spirit and is not reflective of A-League fans Fussball. Its not the FFA or WSW's fault that it clashes with the Melb derby. It will be at least 3 years befor MV play in any ACL final, if at all. You've had your chances and didn't make the most of them.
nordster
Guest
Fair point. Third time lucky with MV. As long as its Berish scoring the winner, and they do it by playing. As much as i like WSW they do well in these tourneys by ekeing out results. Play to their strengths, all good for a little club on the rise. Would rather see a HAL team win it through sheer force though. So Muscat is pro Asia these days?
Greg
Guest
You are a dope.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
As someone who wants Australian football to reach for the sky, I'm appreciative of what AUFC & WSW have done to reach the Final of the ACL. But, as an MVFC fan, I certainly do not want them winning any trophy in Asia - especially, I don't want them being the 1st A-League team to win be Champions of Asia. I don't want them embarrassed. I just don't want them to win.
Leonardo
Roar Guru
Now that the Sydney derby is over let me reassure you that the vast majority of fans want WSW to win. :) You have done us and the A-League very proud so far. Win, lose or draw we will still respect the club and the team. We do not hate you, you are worthy opponents in any competition. But for Australia's sake, we desperately want you to win the final and not succumb like Adelaide did.
AZ_RBB
Guest
Ha! Since when has that ever happened on this website?
RBBAnonymous
Guest
Again we are massive under dogs here. Before the haters hate they need to get to this position before they open their mouths.
AZ_RBB
Guest
The only thing that is certain is that, if WSW lose, the haters will be out in force to say we 'choked again'
Dean
Guest
$10.50 for a Thiago Neves. About the same price as a Noodle Box around my part of Melbourne. There's no way WSW will hold out the Saudis in Saudi Arabia for 90 minutes, let alone 120, especially if they couldn't score in the homeleg. I would expect a fairly boring first half and the Saudis to tire and WSW to press in the last half hour. Perhaps they might even make a decent press straight after half time. After a boring first half, catch the visitors on their heels.
Franko
Guest
Fair point Minister, I think a lot of people would agree with you. For me a 0-0 at home puts all the pressure on Al-Hilal in the second leg, they have to come out looking to score and this style suits WSW well. Certainly if you concede at home, you are up against it so lets hope Spira comes back and plays a blinder. ....Another point is that Al-Hilal have been favoured IMO by playing the first leg away. This allows them to come to Sydney and play with freedom, they can afford to concede as long as they score, WSW do not have that luxury...