Brisbane Roar defender Milan Susak has welcomed the upcoming international break, declaring it as ideal preparation for the squad given their hectic Hyundai A-League schedule in the upcoming weeks.
Next Saturday marks the beginning of three games in eight days, while November holds six matches for the Roar, the most the team has played in one month since the inception of the Hyundai A-League, which includes three Wednesday night fixtures.
“Looking after the schedule this weekend, we-re playing three games in a week,” Susak said.
“It will be good, just to refresh up and get into the pattern of midweek games, so I think it will work well for us.”
Even without an imminent match to prepare for, Susak said the intensity at training has not dipped, with Ange Postecoglou and his coaching staff continuing to make the team sweat it out on the field.
“The training style the coaches have done this week includes some conditioning because of the weekend off,” he said.
“It-s going to be a bit harder this week, and we-re not doing anything easy but it will be good with the two days off because we can recover from it without a game.”
Susak made his Brisbane Roar debut in the week three clash against Sydney FC, replacing the injured Ivan Franjic in the 18th minute.
Since then the 26-year-old has thrived in the right back role, displaying his versatility, composure and strength on the ball.
With Franjic now regaining full fitness, playing a full hour in the National Youth League on Saturday, Susak said he would work hard to maintain his place in the starting eleven but knew the choice would ultimately be up to Postecoglou.
“It-s all up to the gaffer,” he said.
“Ivan is a great player, a really good footballer and he-s been training well.
“It-s got nothing to do with me, and on the day whoever is training better, playing better, whoever-s in form, will get chosen.”
With team morale currently at a high after two gutsy wins, Susak said the closeness of the whole squad was indicative in their performances.
“Everyone is fighting for one another and on the pitch you see that,” he said.
“If one of us makes a mistake, everyone else is behind him, pumping him up – it-s just how it is.
“Even at training, everyone is putting in the hard yards, there is no one who-s lacking, and it really shows in our games.”
Brisbane Roar’s next game is on 16 October against Newcastle Jets, kicking off at 7.45pm at Suncorp Stadium.
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