Cahill praises Postecoglou for keeping faith with him as the clock ticked down in clutch Syria match

IF Tim Cahill knew Ange Postecoglou would be quitting as national team coach following next month’s playoffs against Honduras, he gave no hint of it.

Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou and Tim Cahill have always had a strong working relationship.

IF Tim Cahill had any inkling that Ange Postecoglou would be quitting as national team coach following next month’s playoffs against Honduras, he gave no hint of it.

“I’m really happy for the manager more than anything,” Cahill said. “I’m happy for the players, and for me it’s just great — it’s a great milestone.”

Cahill scored his 49th and 50th international goals and played the full 120 minutes of Tuesday night’s dramatic 2-1 extra-time win over Syria.

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After the game he spoke about his excellent understanding with Postecoglou and praised the Socceroos manager for keeping him on the park.

“I’ve got a great relationship with the boss and regardless of his decisions, playing me five minutes, 10 minutes — whatever. We have chats and he knows I’m in it for the group,” Cahill said.

“There’s a few times he would’ve been nervous (during the game), I’ve seen subs come on, but I think he really felt this is my time and I felt it too.”

Ange Postecoglou and Tim Cahill have always had a strong working relationship.

Despite being two months away from his 38th birthday, Cahill defied any age barrier to play the full 120 minutes. He admits he was hurting both physically and mentally, but he had no doubt going into the game that his contribution would be decisive.

“There was never a shadow of doubt in my mind,” he said.

“When I play in this team I try and give everything. I always tell the boys you have to give everything on the pitch and that’s the way I felt. It possibly could have been my last game if things didn’t go well, but the journey still continues for all of us.

Cahill scored both goals in an extra-time win over Syria that kept World Cup dreams alive.

I’m not surprised — I’m not going to stand here and say I didn’t feel like I was going to score. Every time I put the Socceroos jersey on I play with intent and this was the recipe for that.”

It’s hard to imagine life after Cahill, but going into the play off matches against Honduras the Socceroos legend says the team needs to play with more conviction and finish teams off.

“We need more of that belief to break down more barriers because with a bit more conviction we win that game 5-1,” he said. “It’s coming, the boss knows it’s coming, we believe it.

“It’s an amazing feeling because the achievements keep coming and our goal still needs to be broken down, which will be the next two games. We had to do so much to get to where we are today, it feels like it was meant to be this way. It’s the hard way, but we feel great, we really do.”

Originally published as Cahill praises Postecoglou for keeping faith with him as the clock ticked down in clutch Syria match