Tested, Matt ready to play
GEELONG’S Matthew Spiranovic insists he is still getting the high level competition he needs in the Chinese second division, despite Socceroos coach Ange Postecoglou’s desire to see him move.
The central defender has recovered from a quad injury he suffered in March, which had prevented him undertaking international duties.
Spiranovic’s club, Hangzhou, was relegated at the end of last year.
Postecoglou said last week “the standard he is playing at is probably not ideal”, but the player is not taking his coach’s comments to heart.
“Of course, you always want to be striving to play at the top level, but then we’ve seen on occasions when players have gone to big leagues and have lacked the game time and match fitness,” Spiranovic said.
“It’s an interesting one. I can only comment for myself, playing regularly and feeling fit and well — that’s the positive I’m taking out of it.
“I’ve found throughout my career that if I’m playing regularly then I can perform at my highest level.
“That was my main focus and then obviously it’s up to the coach to determine if that’s at a high enough level.”
He has been at Hangzhou since mid-2015 and is contracted until the end of 2018.
He said it was a show of loyalty on his part to remain after the team was relegated.
“I always had intentions of fulfilling my contract,” he said.
“I was captain of the club and the club showed a lot of faith and belief in me.
“Ultimately if there was an outcome that would be suitable for the club and myself then potentially something could have come of it, but as it turned out we’re forging ahead together and I’m happy.”
The 29-year-old said it was a “severe cork” to the quad requiring “nearly two months of rehab” that had prevented him adding to his 34 Socceroos caps since last November’s 2-2 draw in Thailand.
In his absence the team has reverted to a back three system, which Spiranovic said he was comfortable to play anywhere in if selected.
And while many have questioned the standard of the Chinese second division — and Chinese club football as a whole, despite the influx of money and overseas megastars — he insists he is still being ably tested.
“From my point of view, I’m still tested week in week out,” he said.
“So in that sense it does give me confidence coming into the national team and playing against the quality that we’ll face in the next few games.”