Rojas to end long Asian Champions League wait

It has been six years in the making but Marco Rojas is finally set to make his Asian Champions League debut.

Victory's Marco Rojaswil carry a heavy burden in attack. Picture: George Salpigtidis

It has been six years in the making but Marco Rojas is finally set to make his Asian Champions League debut on Tuesday night, at home to Thai champions Chiangrai United.

Robbie Kruse’s hamstring injury places a heavy attacking burden on Rojas, who is pushing for a start after lasting almost 40 minutes after coming on in Friday’s derby loss to Melbourne City.

Rojas’ versatility could also prove an asset for Victory in the run home, having spent the bulk of the past two seasons playing as a number eight (box to box midfielder), after cutting his teeth as a right winger at Victory.

Victory have a glorious chance to qualify for the Champions League, having knocked out Japanese giants Kashima Antlers in the playoff a fortnight ago after an Andrew Nabbout strike.

Kruse played a key role that night but Victory is hoping he will be fit for game four, the away clash with Beijing FC on April 8 or the visit to Chiangrai a fortnight later.

Rojas twice helped Victory qualify for Asia, netting 15 goals (2012-13) and 12 (2016-17) respectively, but departed for Europe before the continental campaigns commenced.

“I’ve never played in the Asian Champions League. I left both times we qualified. I can’t wait to play, it’s exciting,” Rojas said.

Rojas said European stints with Stuttgart, FC Thun, Heerenveen and SonderjyskE — which included Europa League games with Swiss club Thun — have prepared him to make an impact in the A-League and Asia.

“Europe as a whole was a great learning experience. I took a leap of faith, a chance, went from Australia to the Bundesliga and that was a real wake-up call for myself to world football,” he said.

“I left (Stuttgart) after a year for different reasons and moving to different clubs, needing to stamp my mark on different teams, new dressingrooms and prove myself as a player over and over. Took me a little while to get used to Europe. The most recent (stint) I left with a really good feeling, because I was a regular starter in Europe, which I’d been trying to do for a bit.

“I finally felt I got to a stage where I’d been playing good football in Australia but wasn’t always consistent. Felt I was consistent in Denmark, which I think came about from pushing and proving everyday at training just to get into squads.”

Victory named a 26-man squad for the Champions League, adding youth team players Lleyton Brooks, Luis Lawrie-Lattanzio, So Nishikawa and Josh Varga to the list.

The club sits ninth in the A-League but with a bye this weekend can focus on Tuesday night’s ACL opener, then the following week’s trip to South Korea to face FC Seoul. Injuries, poor form and a coach sacking have all contributed to Victory’s difficult season but captain Ola Toivonen is hopeful a strong ACL start could reinvigorate his side.

“It’s been a tough campaign in the A-League and this campaign is really coming at a really good time for us, that we can really focus on these two Champions League games and hopefully get the result and get the confidence in the group,” Toivonen said.

Victory thumped Bali United, then secured their first win in Asia, beating Kashima Antlers.

Herald Sun, AAP