Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak wants teammates to not show opponents too much respect in Brazil

HAVING conquered stars like Luis Suarez and Frank Lampard, Mile Jedinak said his debut EPL season taught him not to put others on a pedestal.

Liverpool's Luis Suarez (right) and Crystal Palace's Mile Jedinak (left) battle for the ball.

HAVING faced and conquered stars like Luis Suarez and Frank Lampard, Mile Jedinak said his debut Premier League season taught him not to put more decorated opponents on a pedestal.

And with the Socceroos set to face world stars Xavi, David Silva, Alexis Sanchez, Arturo Vidal, Arjen Robben and Robin van Persie to name a few, Jedinak has urged his Socceroos teammates not to show their Group B rivals too much respect.

The newly appointed Socceroos skipper said the mindset served him a treat this season, where he led Crystal Palace to shock mid-table finish after they were universally tipped to return to the second tier.

Liverpool's Luis Suarez (right) and Mile Jedinak (left) battle for the ball.

Jedinak marshalled the midfield for 38 games this season and not only held his own but excelled, often named in PFA and newspapers’ teams of the week.

A late bloomer at 29, Jedinak said his overriding message to the Socceroos ahead of their opener against Chile will be not to be overawed.

“If you’re in awe of everybody you don’t stand a chance,’’ Jedinak said.

“We’re not here to put people on pedestals. You’re not disrespecting by doing that, you’re giving yourself every chance to win a game of football which is what we’re trying to do.

“If you’re in that frame of mind and adopt that mentality, if you have 11 players, better still all 23 and coaching staff believing in it, that can be very hard to beat.

“I admired players from afar but to see them up close and personal has been great. Wayne Rooney, Suarez, seeing these guys on the field is something else.

Robin van Persie of The Netherlands will pose another challenge for Jedinak in Brazil.

“I could rattle off a whole number of them and it’s good knowing you’re out there competing against them. You admire them but you can’t give them too much respect.

“Some people tasting Premier League for the first time can get a bit caught up in it, overawed and not perform in big games for that reason.

“It’s human nature in a sense, but I’ve tried not to get swept up in it. It’s us against them and we’re after three points.

“That thinking helped me handle the season has worked in my favour. Yeah fantastic players and amazing bits of skill, but I haven’t been in awe of too many people.’’

The midfielder warmed up with his Socceroos teammates before peeling off to do light running before strapping ice to his strained groin, with coach Ange Postecoglou set to wrap him in cotton wool until the Croatia friendly in Salvador on June 6.

Captain Socceroo Mile Jedinak training on Friday. Pic: George Salpigtidis

Jedinak, who was signed at Palace by then assistant Tony Popovic from Turks Genclerbirligi in 2011, is contracted to the London club for another three years.

Ironically it was current manager Tony Pulis who tried to sign him at Stoke City in January 2013, when Palace were still in the Championship.

Should Palace get relegated, Jedinak is likely to have a plethora of Premier League offers next time around and he’s determined that there will be no turning back.

While he’s always had immense self-belief he recalled Palace’s opening game of the season, a 1-0 home loss to Tottenham to a Roberto Soldado penalty, as an important moment.

“I’ve had a taste of it and I want to keep tasting the Premier League, you’re looked at differently maybe respected a bit more,’’ he said.

“Not that that matters, because your performances do the talking. I came here off the back of promotion but I still had to prove myself in the Premier League.

“Regardless of what people say you can’t lose focus of what you’re doing.

“At the start of the season I was just really eager for it to come around and after we played Tottenham, we lost but I had a pretty good game and I thought this is the platform and I have to replicate this all the time.

“We were written off all the time and that just spurred us on, and it’s happened to me in the past and what’s followed me through my career is to take opportunities when they come because they don’t come easily.’’

He said the Palace experience will hold him in good stead for Brazil, where he will become the fourth captain to lead Australia to a World Cup after Peter Wilson (1974), Mark Viduka (2006) and Lucas Neill (2010).

“To lead on a Premier League stage is pretty incredible to be honest with you, it’s quite an experience and you only have to look at who else is playing and the coverage it gets in Australia,’’ Jedinak said.

Originally published as Socceroos captain Mile Jedinak wants teammates to not show opponents too much respect in Brazil