Melbourne Victory will be the toughest challenge so far for the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers since the new club started its five-match winning streak, according to Captain Michael Beauchamp.
Melbourne Victory will be the toughest challenge so far for the NRMA Insurance Western Sydney Wanderers since the new club started its five-match winning streak, according to Captain Michael Beauchamp.
“With second playing third and a big crowd down there on a fast pitch everyone is going to have to be up for it and it is another great challenge for us as a club,” Beauchamp said.
Beauchamp said the Wanderers were expecting a very tough encounter despite the Victory being without injured striker Archie Thompson.
“I am sure they are going to be dangerous anyway,” Beauchamp said.
“He is a very dangerous striker and he and (Marcos) Rojas have been doing well together and we don-t take the game anymore lightly and we look forward to the challenge whoever we are up against.”
Beauchamp concedes that Rojas is a major threat.
“We can-t give him too much space,” he said.
“He has been scoring from pretty much everywhere and he is on fire at the moment and if you only focus on him then there are going to be problems with other players.
“We are going out there with the same mentality as we do with every other team and that is focusing on our job and the plan that we have trained throughout the week with and hopefully we will get the job done down there.
“They counter attack very fast and that is something we have talked about already.”
The Wanderers were going for the win despite the daunting task of facing the Victory in their home hostile environment.
“Looking at the table it would be great to get three points down there and pull away from Melbourne and get a little bit closer to the Mariners, depending on their result as well,” Beauchamp said.
“We are going out with the mentality to getting the three points.
“We are not going down there to get the easy draw we want the three points.
“If you can-t get up for these sorts of games then you shouldn-t be playing football.
“All the boys are looking forward to it and the challenge itself and to play in front of a big crowd at AAMI Park will be a great experience.”
Coach Tony Popovic said it was a big test for the club but it has faced other big challenges in its first year too.
“We have had some big challenges and there are many more to come,” Popovic said.
“At this present moment it is second v third and we are going to Melbourne to play against a fantastic club, an excellent manager and in front of a very vocal crowd.
“The players should look forward to that and it is a great time to be a footballer at this club and to already have such a big game in our short time in the A-League is a credit to everyone.
“We should look forward to it and not be afraid of it.”
