By Vince Rugari
Sydney FC coach Steve Corica says there's "no point" leaving the country to complete their AFC Champions League commitments in Qatar if they can't train while in quarantine when they return to continue preparing for the new A-League season.
The Sky Blues, Perth Glory and Melbourne Victory are all due to complete the tournament's group stage next month in a hub in Doha, which was finally confirmed as the location for a World Cup-style hub by the AFC on Friday.
Steve Corica's Sydney FC is facing a logistical nightmare ahead of next month's scheduled resumption of the AFC Champions League.Credit: Getty
The AFC is desperately forging ahead with the Champions League despite the obvious logistical challenges to avoid having to repay around $80 million to broadcasters, according to sources familiar with the situation.
Iranian side Persepolis has already qualified for the final on December 19 after the west zone's fixtures were completed recently in Qatar - but two teams, including reigning ACL winners Al-Hilal, had to pull out because of widespread coronavirus infections in their squads.
Due to play their next match against Aaron Mooy's Shanghai SIPG on November 19, Sydney FC is planning on arriving in Doha four or five days prior. How long they stay there depends on how successful they are.
With only one point from the two ACL games they played before the pandemic it's unlikely the Sky Blues will make it out of the group stage, but they are wary of leaving without knowing what they can do when they arrive home.
With the A-League to resume on December 27, with Sydney FC currently seeking permission from the NSW government to be able to train while serving their two weeks in quarantine when they return to Australia – most likely at a facility like Valentine Sports Park or the Sydney Academy of Sport in Narrabeen.
"If we can't train when we get back there's no point going, because it's leading into the A-League season. We obviously need confirmation on that before we go anywhere," Corica said.
But there could be further issues if Sydney manage to reach the knockout stage of the ACL. If the Sky Blues go beyond the round of 16 they will be in quarantine over Christmas, and the club is believed to be exploring whether the families of players could join them at their accommodation in that instance.
While it's unlikely Sydney FC will go that far, it's not totally inconceivable. Ange Postecoglou's Yokohama F. Marinos, their Group H opponents, will have to split their playing squad in two because their domestic campaign in Japan concludes at the same time as the ACL – so whether they send their strongest or weakest selection to Qatar could impact how far Sydney FC go.
Former Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou may have to split his Yokohama F. Marinos squad in two, with their J.League and AFC Champions League commitments set to collide.Credit: Getty
Furthermore, all matches beyond the ACL's group stage will be played over one leg – not the usual two – which should provide more scope for upset results.
"It's never nice to miss out on family time around Christmas, especially," Corica said. "But of course, we want to go as far as possible in the tournament. I think we'll just take it one step at a time and do our best at the group stages we have remaining and if we qualify ... it's their job."
Sydney are also scrambling to see whether defender Ryan McGowan, who is currently in Scotland, can return to Australia to train with his teammates or meet them in Doha.
The situation is even tougher for Victory and Perth, who currently have barely a dozen senior players each – and, in the case of the Glory, they've been stood down amid the dispute over a new A-League CBA and are yet to resume training.
Asked if they were considering withdrawing from the ACL, Glory chief executive Tony Pignata said: "We're committed, if we can make everything work. How many Australians are stranded overseas at the moment and can't get back? We don't want to be stranded over there.
"It's hard on the players and staff who've hubbed in Sydney for seven or eight weeks, and we're asking them to do maybe another five or six weeks in a hub overseas."