Victory set to take it up to SIPG
Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat has urged his side not to die wondering against the might of Shanghai SIPG in tonight’s Asian Champions League showdown in China.
Victory is yet to win overseas in 16 ACL attempts and will arrive at Shanghai Stadium tonight as underdogs against a side that made the semi-finals of last year’s Champions League and finished second in the Chinese Super League.
Victory played SIPG in the 2016 ACL, beating them 2-1 at AAMI Park, before suffering a 3-1 loss away from home later in the group stage. But even though the Hulk and Oscar-inspired side is one of the favourites to win this year’s competition, Muscat insists his charges
will not take a backwards step.
“There’s quite a few familiar faces from when we were here last time,” Muscat said.
“They finished second in every competition last year, semifinals of the Champions League, so they’re a good team.
“But I just want us to have a go and attack.
“We’ll be picking and choosing our times, naturally, but I don’t want to come here and give them all the ascendancy.
“We don’t want to let them have it all their own way and build confidence. When we get the ball, we’ve got to ask questions of them and put doubt in their mind.
“But collectively we’ve got to be switched on defensively.”
Victory drew 3-3 with Ulsan Hyundai in its first group game last week, while Shanghai won 1-0 away to Kawasaki Frontale.
Muscat said he hadn’t made up his mind about his starting line-up, but it is expected to be much the same as last week, with the possibility that fitagain defender Thomas Deng comes into the mix.
China is still in the depths of winter and the temperature for the game is expected to be as low as two degrees.