The clash between Melbourne Victory and Brisbane Roar at Etihad Stadium tonight is Ange Postecoglou’s last game in charge, but the man himself refuses to use his circumstance as motivation to win.
Victory’s outgoing head coach believes that the occasion on its own is enough of an incentive for his players, as they prepare to face familiar foes for one last time with Postecoglou at the helm.
With an estimated crowd of 35,000 expected to turn up, the 48-year-old believes there is already enough pressure to win from just being involved with the club.
“Do it for me? I’m not big into that. It’s a big enough game as it is and as I keep saying it’s what this football club’s all about every week we seem to have a big game,” Postecoglou said.
“I don’t think it needs any extra emotion or any other reason to be motivated. Brisbane have started the season very well and they look like they’re going to be a contender this year and we’d like to believe we’re a contender this year and it’s going to be a good game.”
Coming off a scintillating second half performance against Adelaide United last week, Postecoglou believes his side is ready for the challenge.
“I was really pleased with last week, there were some really good signs for us there. We played some good football and against some adversity and I think they’re really good signs but we need to back that up tomorrow night,” he said.
“We went to Adelaide to a sell out crowd and if you watch the last 45 minutes of that game we didn’t take a backward step. And if you can do that away from home in front of a hostile crowd, you’re not going to take a backward step at home.”
Brisbane have been in red hot form, completing a highly successful pre-season and starting this campaign with a bang. Last week’s 4-0 thrashing of Sydney was impressive, a fact not lost on Postecoglou.
“[They have been] very impressive, particularly last week. Certainly with Liam Miller and Matty McKay coming back in particular, and some of the players that have been there a while seem to have got their bounce back so they were very impressive last week and as I said they look like they’re going to be a contender,” he said.
“That’s exactly what we want because we want to be a contender. It’s a Friday night game, there’ll be plenty of good coverage of it and the derby was as everyone told was a bit of a dull affair. I certainly want it to be more entertaining tomorrow night, and plenty of goals particularly down one end.”
As for whether there will be any contrasting emotions from the fans on the night, Postecoglou firmly believed the fans were behind him and the club.
“One thing I know about Melbourne Victory supporters, they’re very passionate about their football club so for that 90 minutes they’re going to want us to win,” he said.
“Post the game there’ll maybe be mixed emotions amongst the fans as well but no one can deny that they’re very passionate about their football club and I’m sure they will be tomorrow night.”