In the Melbourne derby, it's two clubs with the same mission: Target Leroy George
As the final Melbourne derby of the season looms, Victory's Dutch import Leroy George is the man in the crosshairs of both teams.
Victory are desperate to keep the former Netherlands international winger and sign him to a new contract to ensure he is part of the inevitable rebuild at the club next season if, as expected, Kevin Muscat is given a new deal.
City's focus will be all about keeping him away from the ball in what will be a key game as both club push for a top-three finish.
George has been one of the few consistently bright lights in what has been a stop-start season for Victory.
His skill and technique is at a higher level than most players who come to this competition, and his work rate and ability to play pretty much anywhere across the front line if required has endeared him to the Victory coaching staff, and fans as well.
George has created goals with his crosses from the wing and his corners, and he scored a sumptuous goal from a free kick last Saturday night, putting his team 2-0 up against Adelaide and well on the way to their eventual 3-0 win.
He signed a one-year deal at the start of the season and has children and a partner in Amsterdam, which might cloud his thinking: his eldest son is currently playing in one of the Ajax under-age teams.
But other A-League clubs are reportedly dangling juicy carrots in his direction, increasing the pressure on Victory to seal a deal.
Victory's Leroy George.
Photo: AAPMuscat made it clear how much he wants to keep George as he looked ahead to Friday night's derby.
''I am not surprised,'' he said when quizzed about other teams' approaches to George's management.
''Leroy has been very good for us, his performance last week was outstanding. He is a required player. He is certainly someone we want to be part of the set-up going forward. Without doubt Leroy is someone we want to keep here.
''We will do everything in our powers to keep him here, the football club wants to keep him, I certainly want to keep him, he's quickly become a fans' favourite, that's all I can say at the moment.''
Muscat said George was ''a bubbly character and well liked in the dressing room''.
''He works quite hard, he's technically very sound, his free kicks and corenrs have been very good for us this season. He has had only a couple of opportunities and has rewarded us.''
Fan disaffection with the team this season has been growing. Re-signing one of their best and most exciting players would send a strong signal to supporters and the rest of the league.
Muscat's big selection headache comes in midfield. Does he retain Argentinian midfielder Matias Sanchez, who came into the side at the expense of captain Carl Valeri for the win over Adelaide, or bring the skipper back in for what will be a feisty game where emotions are likely to run high?
Muscat stressed how important it had been for Victory players to keep their cool in the win over Adelaide, and said both players had good cases to play.
''It's tough, it's a good decision to have to make," he said.
''Sometimes you get a gut feel, sometimes it's performance based, sometimes it's training based. Carl performed really well in Shanghai, Maty came in for the Adelaide game and perfomed really well. It's a nice position to be in.
''Tactically it will be an interesting battle, the physicality always comes into play in a pressure environment with a big crowd.''
Michael Lynch, The Age's expert on soccer, has had extensive experience of high level journalism in the UK and Australia. Michael has covered the Socceroos through Asia, Europe and South America in their past three World Cup campaigns. He has also reported on Grands Prix and top class motor sport from Asia and Europe. He has won several national media awards for both sports and industry journalism.
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