Muangthong's Bothroyd ready for Melbourne showdown
0 Comment(s)
Print
E-mail China.org.cn, February 17, 2014
|
|
|
Jay Bothroyd scored and provided an assist as Thai Premier League runners-up Muangthong United beat Vietnam champions Hanoi T&T 2-0 in the AFC Champions League play-offs last weekend. |
Striker Jay Bothroyd may have only had one experience of the AFC Champions League so far, but the former England international is already fully aware of the gravity of Muangthong United's play-off with Australia's Melbourne Victory on Saturday with a place in the group stages at stake.
Bothroyd scored and provided an assist for Macedonian midfielder Mario Durovski as Thai Premier League runners-up Muangthong remained on course for a second consecutive appearance in the AFC Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 win over Vietnam champions Hanoi T&T at the weekend.
And now with a place in Group G alongside defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Japan's Yokohama F. Marinos on the line at Kardinia Park on Saturday, Bothroyd is looking to follow in the footsteps of friend Djibril Cisse after the former France international played for Qatar's Al Gharafa in last year's competition.
"We know it will be tough game as Melbourne are an organised side and they have Kevin Muscat as manager, who I know from England, and I'm sure he has got them organised in playing the way he would like which I'm sure will be aggressive and organised with him being a defender," said 31-year-old Bothroyd, who signed for Muangthong in January.
"But we are looking forward to it, players want to play in big games, and this is a big game.
"I had heard a bit about the AFC Champions League because Djibril Cisse is my friend and he played in Doha last year. And when I was talking with the coach Scott Cooper and the chairman before I signed they told me it is a massive competition and every player wants to play at the highest level possible."
The meeting with Hanoi last weekend represented only the second outing of the year for Bothroyd and his new team-mates after Muangthong earlier lost the season-opening Royal Cup 1-0 to domestic treble winners Buriram United, while Melbourne are already over halfway through the current A-League campaign.
And while Muangthong were downing Hanoi on Saturday, Kevin Muscat's Melbourne side recorded a 3-1 comeback win over Central Coast Mariners to move into a tie for third place in the A-League table alongside the AFC Champions League qualifiers.
"As an attacking player you always want to contribute with goals or by making goals and I was happy to get on the scoresheet at the weekend and also make one as well. It could have been more, we could have scored more, but it was a solid performance even though we are not at 100%," added Bothroyd, who departed for Australia on Tuesday night with his team-mates.
"Melbourne are already in their season and they have no excuses as they are at 100%. They have the advantage in that respect because they are about halfway through their season and they have a settled team. They are also playing in their own stadium while we are in the beginning of the season.
"If we did not have the AFC Champions League qualifiers, our season does not start until February 22nd. We are in pre-season, but we are all working hard and we want to get through and play in the group stages."
Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)