The Roar are determined to concentrate on their own game despite the focus being on a revamped Western Sydney Wanderers FC in their Round of 32 Westfield FFA Cup tie in Penrith tonight.
Roar Head Coach John Aloisi and international marquee Thomas Broich have both spoken of the need to make the most of any scoring opportunities in what is expected to be a tight match between two Hyundai A-League sides both determined to get their new season off to a winning start.
Tonight’s match continues the growing rivalry between the two clubs.
“We enjoy playing the bigger games,” Broich said.
“It is a long road to win the FFA Cup . . . it is a big goal of ours to do better than last year. We are taking it very seriously.
“It means a lot to us and I hope that shows (tonight).”
The Roar have been working hard in recent weeks on a new playing structure and both Aloisi and Broich emphasised the need to “hurt” the opposition when opportunities arise.
“You don’t want to be predictable, you want to find avenues . . . and really hurt opponents and that is what we are working on every day (in training),” Broich said.
Aloisi agreed.
“We have been working on beating lines, beating the opposition defensive lines and not just kicking the ball for the sake of kicking the ball,” he said.
“We want to hurt teams when we do have a lot of possession and try to create as many chances as possible.
“We still want to dominate possession and dominate the game, but just a little bit different to what they had been doing in the past.
“In the past (the Roar) were very successful and we want to build on that.”
Aloisi predicted the Wanderers would be “a good outfit this year” after signing several “quality” players from Italy and Spain.
“It is going to be a good test for us,” he said.
“We want to win because we want to get through but the most important thing for me is to keep improving on what we have been working on in training.”
The Roar have nine players on the injured list although most of them are expected to resume full training soon.
They are: Henrique (knee), Luke DeVere (quad muscle), Michael Theo (wrist and groin), Corey Brown (quad muscle), Steven Lustica (hamstring), Jerome Polenz (ankle), Daniel Bowles (back), Shannon Brady (quad muscle) and Jean Carlos Solorzano (foot).
That could see several of the club’s Youth program products get match time tonight with the travelling squad including former Young Roar captain and midfielder Mitch Hore, exciting winger Abrahim Yango and current Roar captain and defender Cameron Crestani.
“I was impressed with the young boys who came on against Liverpool and this is another opportunity for them,” Aloisi said.
The match will be telecast LIVE and exclusive on Fox Sports (Channel 505) from 7pm, Brisbane Roar will also feature in the Fields to Dream show on Channel 505 from 6.30pm.
