EXCLUSIVE: Glen Moss admits all the jibes and snide comments questioning Wellington's A-League 'worthiness' have helped fuel an impressive campaign as he bids to upset his future boss.
The Wellington Phoenix goalkeeper will swap Westpac Stadium for Telstra Dome next season and he won't be too popular with Ernie Merrick should he help the New Zealanders to three points on Friday night.
He says that hasn't crossed his mind though and if helping Wellington to a win ruins Melbourne's title hopes in the process, so be it.
Moss told au.fourfourtwo.com today: "It's just a coincidence with the way it has worked out, facing Melbourne on the last day.
"For me, it's all still about Wellington Phoenix at this stage. We want to do everything we can to push for that top four finish.
"We believed at the start of the season that it was a real chance with the squad of players that we had.
"Everyone is pretty happy and we go there (Melbourne) with confidence.
"I think we've really had a second wind in the second half of the season and after the rough patch we had I think we've probably raised a few eyebrows in Australia.
"I'm sure there were some who had written us off."
Moss knows that Wellington's inclusion in the A-League isn't embraced by all but on a personal level, he has used the negativity as motivation.
He said: "You do hear things, people saying Wellington shouldn't be in (the A-League) and New Zealand is rubbish, stuff like that. I think some of the boys do use that sort of thing as a way of adding to the motivation."
Moss believes he will leave a happy and healthy club at the end of the season, a club which he believes will continue to grow.
He said: "The club has an unbelievable owner and I'm confident it can go on from here."
As for his next boss, Moss hasn't received any threatening or anonymous calls asking him to take it easy on Friday and he isn't expecting any.
He joked: "No, nothing like that."
He does admit though that he's pleased the likes of Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp won't be bearing down on his goal next season.
He said: "People like that and Kevin Muscat, they're players you really want with you, not against you."
He says that hasn't crossed his mind though and if helping Wellington to a win ruins Melbourne's title hopes in the process, so be it.
Moss told au.fourfourtwo.com today: "It's just a coincidence with the way it has worked out, facing Melbourne on the last day.
"For me, it's all still about Wellington Phoenix at this stage. We want to do everything we can to push for that top four finish.
"We believed at the start of the season that it was a real chance with the squad of players that we had.
"Everyone is pretty happy and we go there (Melbourne) with confidence.
"I think we've really had a second wind in the second half of the season and after the rough patch we had I think we've probably raised a few eyebrows in Australia.
"I'm sure there were some who had written us off."
Moss knows that Wellington's inclusion in the A-League isn't embraced by all but on a personal level, he has used the negativity as motivation.
He said: "You do hear things, people saying Wellington shouldn't be in (the A-League) and New Zealand is rubbish, stuff like that. I think some of the boys do use that sort of thing as a way of adding to the motivation."
Moss believes he will leave a happy and healthy club at the end of the season, a club which he believes will continue to grow.
He said: "The club has an unbelievable owner and I'm confident it can go on from here."
As for his next boss, Moss hasn't received any threatening or anonymous calls asking him to take it easy on Friday and he isn't expecting any.
He joked: "No, nothing like that."
He does admit though that he's pleased the likes of Archie Thompson and Danny Allsopp won't be bearing down on his goal next season.
He said: "People like that and Kevin Muscat, they're players you really want with you, not against you."
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