ALL FIRED UP FOR JETS
JUBILANT Kevin Muscat scoffed at suggestions his team would be physically disadvantaged after its epic albeit taxing extra-time A-League semi-final win on Saturday, admitting Sydney FC’s “taunts” were a spur.
Muscat revealed that he challenged his players to overcome their latest setback after losing “shattered” star Rhys Williams minutes before kick-off.
Victory’s only losses from the stunning 3-2 semi-final win are set to be assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny and goalkeeper coach Dean Anastasiadis, who were red-carded after Terry Antonis’s 117th-minute winner sparked dramatic scenes.
Muscat declared that Newcastle deserved to host the final, with a capacity 30,000-crowd expected to flock to Hunter Stadium, but was unfazed by the fact that the Jets got it done inside 90 minutes, a day earlier.
“We’re gonna get the game moved to Sunday,” Muscat quipped.
“We’ll be right. We’ve earnt the right to play in that final next week — that’s three in four years. That group there is as resilient as I’ve worked with. Great performance and great to go into the big dance next week.”
Muscat admitted barbs from over the border, which prompted Graham Arnold to place a ban on player interviews for several days, were heard.
“It was great sitting back in Melbourne hearing it all come in. Sometimes if you talk too much, it can come back to bite you,’’ he said.
“After the game, one of their coaches spoke to one of ours and said we knew the arrogance was going to come back and bite us. That’s what happened.”
Socceroos-bound Arnold said he would return to the Sky Blues one day, but maintained they were the best team the A-League’s seen.
“Even with this result, we’re still the greatest team in A-League history. No one can take away what we’ve done in the last two years,’’ he said.
“I didn’t prepare for that speech, strange feeling for me. It’s sad, I’ve had four wonderful years here.”