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Beejayville · 12-03-2008, 06:13

VICTORY ON THE ATTACK IN AFC OPENER
Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has promised to attack as the 2006-07 A-League champions kick-off their maiden AFC Champions League campaign against Korea Republic side Chunnam Dragons on Wednesday. Merrick admitted there was a real sense of excitement around the club ahead of the historic fixture and is confident his side can make the ideal start by collecting three points.

"It is important that we maximise our opportunity to win the first game at home in front of what will be a big crowd," Merrick said.
"It's just a tremendous opportunity to play international club football in the AFC Champions League."

Victory did not qualify for the A-League finals this year after finishing fifth in the table, but Merrick said there was some real momentum building after three wins and a draw in their final four games of the league, plus solid displays in some friendly matches in the build up to their ACL debut.

"There's a sense of excitement," he added. "We picked up a lot momentum off the back of the A-League.

"We've played Adelaide a couple of times and we played the Australia national team and a local side, Whittlesea, and I don't think we've lost a game in 2008.

"We're pretty keen to keep that momentum going. There's a lot of excitement."

Nicky Ward, recruited from English championship side Queens Park Rangers in December, is likely to start after proving he has recovered from a niggling groin injury. It is a much-needed boost for the home side with talented Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez out for the first two matches of the campaign. Billy Celeski is set to replace the midfielder. There are plenty of injury concerns for Chunnam coach Park Hang-Seo, who will be without captain Kwak Tae-hwi who was injured in Saturday's K-League defeat to the Pohang Steelers. Kim Chi-woo and Koh Ki-goo are also set to miss out.

"My main concern is that I have four very important players and three of them will be missing," Park said. "I need to fill the gaps left by them, that's my biggest worry."

Park also said that preparing for an ACL match just four days after the opening game of the K-League season was not ideal and that fatigue could be a problem, although he reiterated his desire to grab a victory in Melbourne.

"Every coach wants to win, we don't want to draw. So I expect to win," he said.

12-03-2008, 06:13	#4 (permalink)
Beejayville Statistical Punter Join Date: 11 Aug 2006 Location: Australia Posts: 4,296	Re: AFC - Asian Champions League 2008 VICTORY ON THE ATTACK IN AFC OPENER Melbourne Victory coach Ernie Merrick has promised to attack as the 2006-07 A-League champions kick-off their maiden AFC Champions League campaign against Korea Republic side Chunnam Dragons on Wednesday. Merrick admitted there was a real sense of excitement around the club ahead of the historic fixture and is confident his side can make the ideal start by collecting three points. "It is important that we maximise our opportunity to win the first game at home in front of what will be a big crowd," Merrick said. "It's just a tremendous opportunity to play international club football in the AFC Champions League." Victory did not qualify for the A-League finals this year after finishing fifth in the table, but Merrick said there was some real momentum building after three wins and a draw in their final four games of the league, plus solid displays in some friendly matches in the build up to their ACL debut. "There's a sense of excitement," he added. "We picked up a lot momentum off the back of the A-League. "We've played Adelaide a couple of times and we played the Australia national team and a local side, Whittlesea, and I don't think we've lost a game in 2008. "We're pretty keen to keep that momentum going. There's a lot of excitement." Nicky Ward, recruited from English championship side Queens Park Rangers in December, is likely to start after proving he has recovered from a niggling groin injury. It is a much-needed boost for the home side with talented Costa Rican Carlos Hernandez out for the first two matches of the campaign. Billy Celeski is set to replace the midfielder. There are plenty of injury concerns for Chunnam coach Park Hang-Seo, who will be without captain Kwak Tae-hwi who was injured in Saturday's K-League defeat to the Pohang Steelers. Kim Chi-woo and Koh Ki-goo are also set to miss out. "My main concern is that I have four very important players and three of them will be missing," Park said. "I need to fill the gaps left by them, that's my biggest worry." Park also said that preparing for an ACL match just four days after the opening game of the K-League season was not ideal and that fatigue could be a problem, although he reiterated his desire to grab a victory in Melbourne. "Every coach wants to win, we don't want to draw. So I expect to win," he said.