Sydney FC defender Ryan McGowan is not expecting any surprises from Ange Postecoglou’s J-League champions Yokohama F. Marinos on Wednesday night.
Whether the Hyundai A-League Champions can stop the Head Coach who has lifted that title in back-to-back seasons with Brisbane Roar in 2010/11 and 2011/12 is another question.
McGowan is well aware that the former Socceroos chief’s free-flowing style of attacking football has proved successful in both Australia and Japan.
But Head Coach Steve Corica’s outfit have proved a tough nut to crack back on home soil and McGowan believes the Sky Blues have all of the information they need to be fully prepared for what the four-time champions of Japan have to throw at them.
“He’s always played very similar when he was at Brisbane Roar, Socceroos, everywhere,” said McGowan.
“He’s tried to implement the same style that has been successful and this team is no different.
Morning stroll in Yokohama 🚶♂️
Just a little bit cold! Credit to lads in shorts though… 🥶 #SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions #ACL2020 pic.twitter.com/wxXRK2Vot6
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 18, 2020
“Winning the J-League means that they are a very good team but one that we feel that we can exploit and hopefully we do that.”
It is not only hours of video footage that Sydney FC have been trawling through to get a read of what to expect from the Tricolore a week before they get their 2020 domestic campaign under way.
Twenty-cap Socceroo McGowan is one of a number of Sydney FC players who have served under Postecoglou and an 18-day wait between matches has given the Sky Blues the time they need to be ready for the clash at the International Stadium Yokohama.
“With the Wanderers game being cancelled it allowed us to have a few more days on the training pitch, and we’ve worked well setting up against what we expect to face on Wednesday night,” McGowan added.
“It’s been good and hopefully our plan succeeds on Wednesday night and we get the three points.”
"It adds an extra story line to the game. We’re really looking forward to playing Yokohama."
Captain @alexwilkinson84 on a familiar foe in tomorrow's @TheAFCCL clash v @prompt_fmarinos – https://t.co/KAX9z4rc72#SydneyIsSkyBlue #WeAreChampions #ACL2020 pic.twitter.com/NVCybnSNGp
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 18, 2020
