Tony Popovic: Perth Glory will play without fear in Champions League bow

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has declared his team will take a no-fear approach into their Champions League debut against FC Tokyo.

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic: ‘I expect our team to play without fear and to continue on the good form that we’ve shown in our local competition.’ Picture: Getty Images

Perth Glory coach Tony Popovic has declared his team will take a no-fear approach into their Asian Champions League debut against FC Tokyo in Japan on Tuesday night.

The return of skipper Diego Castro from injury has boosted Glory’s hopes of causing an upset, but they will still start as clear underdogs against the team that finished second to Ange Postecoglou’s Yokohama F. Marinos in last season’s J.League.

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Glory will be without Chris Ikonomidis after the Socceroos star ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament earlier this month, but Popovic declared his players were eager to continue their good streak of form that has them unbeaten in their last nine A-League matches.

“I don’t believe much will be expected from us tomorrow night from the outside, but from within we expect to show a good performance against a very good opponent,” Popovic said.

“Tomorrow the fans will see a team that wants to play a certain style of football, a very confident team, that will show a lot of belief, and also we’ll show a lot of respect to our opponent.

“I expect our team to play without fear and to continue on the good form that we’ve shown in our local competition, and to showcase ourselves and show the quality we have with and without the ball.”

Popovic has vast experience of the ACL, having guided Western Sydney to the title in 2014. But Glory’s players will enter the tournament with the added distraction over the potential sale of the club.

Owner Tony Sage is still in London doing his “due diligence” on bitcoin company London Football Exchange that wants to buy Glory. Fans have been quick to voice their concern over Sage’s plans to sell 80 per cent of the club to LFE. And it seems Sage has been listening, with the millionaire mining magnate distancing himself bit by bit from the deal.

Sage is adamant no deal has been done, despite LFE releasing a statement to the contrary last week.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Victory will look to build on their promising start to their Asian Champions League campaign when they face FC Seoul in South Korea on Tuesday night.

Victory secured three points in their opening match with a 1-0 win at home against Chiangrai United last week.

“The win was very important – there’s only six games so if you can win the ones at home, that gives you a big advantage and gives you the chance to accumulate some real points within the group,” Victory winger Marco Rojas said. “So that was very big.

“It was a hard-fought performance and we’re looking forward to adding to that in this game. Hopefully we can pick up something in maybe a couple of the away games.”

FC Seoul finished third in the 2018-19 K League, entering the ACL at the playoff stage, where they beat Malaysian team Kedah FC 4-1 to qualify for the group stage.

They are in their pre-season and start their domestic league season next week.

It was snowing in Seoul when Victory arrived but Rojas said the A-League side would embrace the different conditions.

“It’s a little bit easier I think because there’s no heat, it’s a bit easier to run around in this than 25-30 degrees,” he said.

“So I’m sure we’ll be fine. Just enjoy the experience and the difference of being here in this weather (rather) than being at home.”

AAP