Australian clubs have again struggled to succeed in the Asian Champions League. But why?
In my view the key to doing well in the Asian Champions league is making sure you shut up shop when you play away from home, and doing all you can to get the win at home.
Adelaide did it perfectly in 2008, when they managed to push themselves all the way to the final against Gamba Osaka.
Their amazing campaign showed how much the Asian Champions League meant to all Australians and proved that Adelaide weren't just representing Adelaide anymore. They were representing Australia.
Adelaide have definitely set the standard for Australian clubs in this tournament. They had a tough group stage and managed to get through to a much easier knockout stage.
The biggest issue with Adelaide was that they ran out of steam towards the end of the tournament - they'd practically played two seasons in a row. This is something the media and people across the game didn't appreciate or understand.
Adelaide's style really suited the ACL. They were switched on with regards on how it was to occur, they played a lot of counter-attack football and made sure their defence was tight the entire tournament.
Theyalso ensured it was difficult for their opponents to come down to Australia and get a result. After all the travel the Asian teams did, Adelaide would shut up shop and make it difficult for the away teams to get one in. The distance to get here is something Australian teams can - and should - exploit.
This year, it's going to be difficult for both Sydney and Melbourne.
One of the biggest problems for Australian teams in the tournament is playing games in our off-season. It's very difficult to have match fitness and hardness when you don't have the intensity week in, week out.
You can play your practice games, play your trial matches, step up the volume and the intensity of training but in the end it's not the same as playing constant, competitive football.
The ACL is Sydney and Melbourne's chance at redemption after an average A-League season. By their standards, neither side had a successful campaign. Hopefully they will be able to put that behind them quickly and show the continent that they deserve to be in the tournament.
Both sides have shown this year that depth is the key to a strong season as key injuries hampered both of them. To do well in the Champions League, they've both needed to bolster their squads and Sydney have done that.
The Sky Blues have made some key signings with David Williams being the biggest. He's going to do really well, especially with the away part of the campaign. Williams' runs make it difficult for clubs to keep a high line.
Other key men for Sydney include Mark Bridge, who's just coming back from injury so he'll be fresh and raring to go, and obviously Nicky Carle who is just starting to get some rhythm and form after a long spell on the sidelines.
This trio will be dangerous with Williams' ability to get behind defenders, Bridge or Cazarine playing the supporting role and Carle playing the role of the architect in behind. You can see Sydney causing this competition some headaches.
While Melbourne haven't had the best of starts in the competition or made any new signings, they have a similar scenario with Archie Thompson coming back from injury, Robbie Kruse having proven himself at the Asian level and Hernandez playing a similar role to Carle.
If they can put their early defeats and the loss of Ernie Merrick behind them, the Champions League might suit Melbourne more as they tend to stay compact and play on the counter, especially away from home, where Kruse and Thompson will be important.
However, the danger is in making sure their defensive structure remains intact. No-one wants to be in a situation where you concede early and have to press.
Sydney's first opponent of Suwon was a tough ask with the Sky Blues battling to a point with just 10 men. Both teams were in different situations; Suwon were just starting their season while Sydney had just finished.
Every home game is key for the Australian teams - you cannot lose at home like Melbourne have done already, but Victory still have the players to bounce back.
Managerial Masterclass
Encouraging team bonding off the field
"A good way to keep a team unified is to do things like integration trips. It can be something that has nothing to do with football - getting your players out of their comfort zones and making them do things together. When you have a variety of players across different age groups, it's important to make them feel comfortable with each other. Doing this ensures the welfare of the team is paramount. At the AIS, we have practically a new squad every year, and these camps make things work very well. The players learn the only way to get the best out of each other is to know each other. It's always better that someone outside of the club runs these camps. To do this further, take them somewhere they're not used to. If they're from the coast, take them to the mountains; if they're country then take them to the coast. These camps make them understand that everyone needs each other for success."
This article appeared in the May 2011 issue of FourFourTwo magazine. To buy back copies of this issue call 03-8317-8121 with a credit card to hand.
