For all the feel-good stories about the Western Sydney Wanderers, goalkeeper Ante Covic acknowledges the club needs something to show for it, starting with the biggest prize in Asian football.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wanderers have upset the odds once again to advance to the semi-finals of the Asian Champions League, where they face FC Seoul away in the first leg on Wednesday night.
Having shocked Asian football by pushing out Marcello Lippi's Guangzhou Evergrande, the most expensively assembled squad in the confederation's history, it would seem Tony Popovic's side has much to boast about after making back-to-back A-League grand finals.
But Covic says his teammates will look back with regret if they can't bring home silverware.
"It's been great to make two grand finals and to have come this far in the Asian Champions League, but I think we can't be happy with just getting close and feeling that's enough," he said. "For two great years, we've only got a Premiers' Plate [from the club's inaugural season in 2012-13]. We play football to win things and after losing those grand finals, we now have a golden opportunity to claim the biggest title we can possibly win."
At 39, it may also be Covic's last chance to taste success if the Wanderers don't fire in the upcoming A-League season, with the club already out of the FFA Cup after being ambushed by Adelaide City last month.
The glovesman is also acutely aware of the bigger picture, with no Australian side ever having won the ACL. Adelaide United went closest in 2009, only be outclassed by Japanese side Gamba Osaka in the final.
"It would be enormous to win this league," he said. "It's the sort of thing that would really put the A-League on the map. We all know how much these clubs spend and it would really demonstrate that we're capable of matching Asia's best."
The size of the challenge is enlarged by preparing not only for this match but for an entire A-League campaign that still doesn't kick off for another few weeks.
"I think any Australian club is going to find it difficult when they come to this stage because of the way you're preparing. It's definitely not ideal for us," Covic said. "We've just had massive player turnover and our seasons don't match up at all. Compare that with the Asian clubs, and most them are right in the middle of their season. It's a huge advantage."
Covic has a solution in mind, however. While the FFA has timed the season to begin after the close of the AFL and NRL season, the veteran says the league should have already kicked off.
"If we want to give teams a shot at winning the Asian Champions League, we need to be starting earlier," he said. "I'd go as far as to say it should be a whole month earlier. I don't understand why we're not already playing, actually."
Playing the second leg at home is often considered a major advantage in a two-legged play-off but Covic doesn't want his teammates looking to settle for a draw first-up.
"We always play to win, nothing less, and that's always a big motivator for us," he said. "We've won away in the ACL before in the group stages [over Guizhou Renhe and Ulsan Hyundai], so we know we can do it."
The Wanderers should already have some idea of the way FC Seoul play, with the Koreans facing the Central Coast Mariners earlier in the tournament.
The Mariners lost 2-0 in Seoul but were desperately unlucky to get beaten 1-0 at home, a fluke John Hutchinson own-goal deciding the match in injury time. Preparations this time have been ramped up in a effort to find a weakness in the side that currently sits in fifth place in the K-League – recovering impressively after being second-last after 11 rounds.
"Crooky [assistant coach Ian Crook] has already gone ahead to see them play last Friday and it's no secret that Popa's preparation will be extremely detailed," Covic said. "We always know the strengths and weaknesses of whoever we're playing and it gives us an edge."
