Bothroyd ready for Melbourne clash

Bothroyd ready for Melbourne clash

Striker Jay Bothroyd may have only had one experience of the AFC Champions League so far, but the former England international is already fully aware of the gravity of Muang Thong United's play-off at Australia's Melbourne Victory on Saturday with a place in the group stages at stake.

Jay Bothroyd celebrates after scoring against Hanoi T&T.

Bothroyd scored and provided an assist for Macedonian midfielder Mario Gjurovski as Thai Premier League runners-up Muang Thong remain on course for a second consecutive appearance in the AFC Champions League with a comfortable 2-0 win over Vietnamese champions Hanoi T&T at the weekend.

And now with a place in Group G alongside defending champions Guangzhou Evergrande, former winners Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and Japan's Yokohama Marinos on the line at Kardinia Park on Saturday, Bothroyd is looking to follow in the footsteps of his friend Djibril Cisse after the former France international played for Qatar's Al Gharafa in last year's competition.

``We know it will be a tough game as Melbourne are an organised side and they have Kevin Muscat as manager, who I know from England, and I'm sure he has got them organised in playing the way he would like which I'm sure will be aggressive and organised with him being a defender,'' said 31-year-old Bothroyd, who signed for Muang Thong in January.

``But we are looking forward to it. Players want to play in big games, and this is a big game.

``I heard a bit about the AFC Champions League because Djibril Cisse is my friend and he played in Doha last year. And when I was talking with coach Scott Cooper and the chairman before I signed they told me it is a massive competition and every player wants to play at the highest level possible.''

The meeting with Hanoi last weekend represented only the second outing of the year for Bothroyd and his new teammates after the Kirins lost 1-0 to domestic treble winners Buriram United in the King's Trophy match, while Melbourne are already over halfway through the current A-League campaign and are third.

``I was happy to get on the scoresheet at the weekend and also make one as well. It could have been more, we could have scored more, but it was a solid performance even though we are not at 100 percent,'' said Bothroyd.

``Melbourne are already in their season and they have no excuses as they are at 100 percent. They have the advantage in that respect because they are about halfway through their season and they have a settled team. They are also playing in their own stadium while we are in the beginning of the season.

``If we did not have the AFC Champions League qualifiers, our season does not start until Feb 22. We are in pre-season, but we are all working hard and we want to get through and play in the group stages.''

Meanwhile, Chonburi FC, who finished third in the TPL last season, will be at Beijing Guoan on Saturday.

The winners will be in Group F with Sanfrecce Hiroshima (JPN), Central Coast Mariners (AUS) and last year's ACL runners-up FC Seoul (KOR).

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