Sydney FC need to stop Shanghai’s incredible Hulk

Sydney FC defender Michael Zullo is facing $200m of talent, including Shanghai’s incredible Hulk.

Shanghai SIPG’s Hulk, centre, is set to provide a handful for Sydney FC

He will have an attacking juggernaut or two charging at him at some stage during tonight’s Asian Champions League game against Shanghai SIPG at Jubilee Oval, but Michael Zullo has been around long enough to remain unfazed.

With Shanghai boasting a side that includes three Brazilian heavyweights in Hulk, Oscar and Elkeson — whose combined worth is more than $200 million — the Sydney FC defender knows he could be in for a torrid time as the Sky Blues look to keep alive their hopes of advancing to the knockout stage.

Depending on how the Chinese champions set up, Zullo is likely to have Brazilian international Hulk, aptly named because of his powerful frame, bearing down on him more often than not. Skill and class aside, the diminutive former Socceroo will be giving away a considerable weight and height advantage.

“Hulk is a massive name and there is also a bit of a weight difference between us I reckon … and height,” Zullo joked. “But it is exciting for me.

“Maybe when I was younger it was daunting coming across good players and thinking ‘Am I going to be good enough?’, but at this stage it is just another test and another exciting day in my career.

“It will be something to look back in my career and think, ‘I played well against this person and that person and I could have done better or maybe I did well’. You learn from it.

“For me, it is about enjoying every game and the unique experience the ACL provides.”

Sydney FC coach Steve Corica said neither he nor his players will be shying away from the challenge of playing such a quality side as the Chinese champions.

“They have a decent squad, don’t they?” he said yesterday. “They obviously have a big budget to get these players to China. Oscar, alone, is worth more than the whole of the A-League salary cap put together so that tells you what we are up against.

“We know what to expect from them as we have watched most of their games since the ACL started as well as their league games, so we are well prepared.”

So how does Corica plan to stop the dynamic trio?

“We want to try and double up on them as much as possible, get bodies around them and don’t give them the space, which they like,” he added. “We have a plan and we have worked on that.

“We have to stop them shooting from distance as well.”

With just a point from their opening two games following a draw with Ulsan and a last-gasp loss to Kawasaki Frontale, the Sky Blues need to win tonight for a place in the next stage.

“We have to win these home games because it is important if we want to go through to the next round,” Corica said.

“We were excellent against Ulsan at home and I want more of that from the boys tonight.”

Corica will make changes to the side that beat Melbourne Victory in the Big Blue at the SCG on Saturday night, with Iranian striker Reza “Gucci” Ghoochannejhad expected to come in for Alex Brosque up front. Dutchman Siem de Jong also appears in line to start, having been used as a substitute in the last two A-League games after returning from a six-week injury break.

Meanwhile, Corica is disappointed his side’s superb win over Victory has been marred by the controversy surrounding the SCG surface, described as “disgraceful” by Melbourne coach Kevin Muscat.

“The most important thing is the way we played,” Corica said.

“You can talk about the pitch, but at the end of the day there were two teams on it and we were the better team and we deserved to win and credit to our boys. There has been lot of deflecting.”