Kevin Muscat says Jeonbuk Motors will find Asian Champions League trip to AAMI Park tough

KEVIN Muscat has promised that Jeonbuk Motors will be hit by a Melbourne Victory barrage in the opening stages of Tuesday night’s Asian Champions League clash at AAMI Park.

Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat with Besart Berisha during training. Picture: George Salpigtidis

KEVIN Muscat has promised that Jeonbuk Motors will be hit by a Melbourne Victory barrage in the opening stages of Tuesday night’s Asian Champions League clash at AAMI Park.

And while Jeonbuk coach Choi Kang-hee declared supreme confidence in his team’s ability to get a result in the first game of the two-legged Round of 16 tie, Muscat said Victory’s outstanding home record in the Champions League should not be taken for granted.

Victory has won nine and drawn four of its 16 ACL games at home.

It is also undefeated in its last nine games against Asian opposition in Melbourne.

Muscat said it was difficult to travel in the Champions League — especially to and from Australia — but the coach also said his side still had to make it difficult for the visitors, which he promised it would do.

“I’ve got no doubt in my mind it’ll be a tough night for them,” Muscat said.

“It’s not easy to travel in this competition. This is the first time Jeonbuk has had to travel to Australia in this current tournament and the seriousness of that travel was shown when they got their K-League game (last weekend) postponed to give them the best chance to be successful.

“We’ll start the game tomorrow night in a manner that will give everyone a clear indication of what our intentions are.”

In what is its first-ever Champions League knockout game, Victory is set to deploy the same starting line-up that defeated Gamba Osaka at AAMI Park two weeks ago.

It will be another emotional night for Melbourne Victory's Archie Thompson, Matthieu Delpierre and Kosta Barbarouses. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Archie Thompson, Matthieu Delpierre and Kosta Barbarouses will all play their last home games for the club, adding another layer of emotion to tonight’s proceedings.

But Muscat said the farewells would not be a distraction.

“There’s a clear focus,” he said.

“Yes there’s been extra activity for these guys after training, but the (time) I’ve had with the players during training and in meetings has been spot on. There’s been no talk of those things.

“For the individuals driving to the game there might be a bit of a different feeling, but once you get here and start preparing the reality is you want to walk off that pitch, look your teammates in the eye and say that you’ve given everything you possibly could.”

Jeonbuk arrived on Sunday with a full-strength squad, trained at Gosch’s Paddock that afternoon and will get its first look at AAMI Park on Monday afternoon.

“Away games are always difficult,” Kang-hee said.

“But our players are ready and we will win the game.”

Former Melbourne City midfielder Erik Paartalu is struggling to break into the Jeonbuk line-up. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Kang-hee also said the door has not been closed on Erik Paartalu’s K-League career.

But the coach said the two-time Socceroo does have to adjust to the speed of Korean football.

After making the switch from Melbourne City in February, Paartalu played in Jeonbuk’s first four ACL games and first league game of the season, but has not featured in the last nine matchday squads.

Alarmingly for the midfielder he was left out of an understrength side that won an FA Cup game against second-tier side Anyang last Wednesday, nor has he travelled to Melbourne for the Victory clash.

“He didn’t do anything wrong,” Kang-hee said.

“A-League and K-League have different styles, the K-League has a faster tempo.

“He’s still settling in the K-League and after he settles then we are expecting something from him.”

Originally published as Kevin Muscat says Jeonbuk Motors will find Asian Champions League trip to AAMI Park tough