A-League finals: Rudan’s young Phoenix players in new territory

Mark Rudan knows a thing or two about the pressure of finals football.

Wellington Phoenix teenager Liberato Cacace, right, has flourished under Mark Rudan’s tutelage this season. Picture: Getty Images

Mark Rudan knows a thing or two about the pressure of finals ­football.

During a long career, he tasted the joys of a senior championship just the once, leading Sydney FC to the inaugural A-League title in 2006. He knows how tough it is to get into the playoffs, let alone win them.

Now, as coach of Wellington Phoenix, Rudan will lead the Kiwis into an elimination final against defending champions Melbourne Victory at AAMI Park tonight.

It is a daunting task against the biggest and most successful club in A-League history and Rudan will go into the match with a squad that features some players who are in uncharted territory.

While the likes of outstanding prospect Liberato Cacace, 18, and Sarpreet Singh, 20, have made great strides under Rudan’s tutorship, playing finals football will be a totally new ball game for them. But whether it is bravado or a strong belief, Rudan has no doubts they will handle the pressure.

“There’s no pressure, absolutely none,” Rudan said.

“I understand that there could be a few more nerves, but it’s my job to calm them down and let them know that they’ve done ­extremely well to get here. We ­deserve to be here and it’s just ­reward.

“For us, it is about grabbing that opportunity. Throughout the season, there were moments where people questioned us, but we have kept coming through.”

Cacace has been one of the finds of the season while Singh has also performed admirably, though he hit a rough patch in the latter part of the season.

“They have both been excellent,” Rudan said. “I am very proud of Libby. He has done extremely well. He has a great head on his shoulders.

“We have challenged him a lot and he has grown in leaps and bounds and that is reflected by the fact he has played the most minutes for us this season.”

The Kiwis will take heart from the fact that they have proved something of a handful for Victory in their three previous encounters this season, all of which ended in draws.

Victory coach Kevin Muscat is reading nothing into their earlier contests.

“Three games, three stalemates. We analysed those games at the time and there are some learnings,” Muscat said yesterday. “But it is in the past. Tomorrow night is a fresh contest, challenge and opportunity.”