Melbourne Victory manager Jim Magilton said his players have to come to terms with the pressure of playing at the A-League’s biggest club.
Magilton is yet to oversee a Victory win in his three games in charge of the side ahead of Wednesday’s match against Gold Coast United in Launceston.
The Victory are preparing to embark on a pivotal part of their season, with two fixtures in four days, including a derby with rivals Melbourne Heart on Saturday.
The 42-year-old Northern Irishman said there was no additional pressure to back up from Wednesday’s clash for their derby at the weekend, claiming that Victory are a hunted side for all of their outings.
“We can’t get away from it, it’s a big week (playing two games in four days),” Magilton said.
“But every time Melbourne come to town, it’s always a big game. So there’s a certain amount of pressure.”
“But again, being a Melbourne Victory manager, being a Melbourne Victory player, you’ve got to be able to handle that and come out and withstand what Gold Coast throw at us, and come out with the quality that we have in the team.”
Magilton insisted his squad had been training well ahead of the clash with the league cellar-dwellers, as Victory look to bounce back after conceding a two-goal lead against Sydney FC last time out.
“It’s another tough game. We’re well prepared for the game, but physically and mentally we’ve got to step up to the mark,” he said.
“Training this week has been good, obviously we are disappointed that we didn’t pick up all three points last week but as I say, training’s been good, been lively, been very confident in training. So hopefully we can bring that onto the park.”
Regarding rumours surrounding the potential exit of star players from his squad at season’s end – such as Costa Rica international Carlos Hernandez – Magilton said he was focussed on finishing the season first.
“All I’m concentrating on at the moment is the end of season. So all the players are here ’til the end of season, everyone’s got to stand up and be counted. As I say, we’re fully focused on each game, and come the end of season, we’ll take it up then,” he said.
Magilton also dismissed any notion that stars such as midfielder Harry Kewell would be rested ahead of Saturday’s derby.
“Absolutely not,” Magilton said, when asked if he was in any doubt to bring his star attractions to Tasmania.
“They’re all fit and ready to go so no doubt whatsoever.”
