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Fulham and Socceroo goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer at full stretch
against Middlesbrough in the English Premier League.
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Gold Coast United's Jason Culina has added a hint of spice to
the usually serene atmosphere of pre-season friendly football by
admitting the rookie A-League club would prefer to be playing
Premier League giants Manchester United or Arsenal than Fulham on
the Gold Coast tomorrow night.
Reacting to Fulham captain Danny Murphy's prediction yesterday
that the match at Skilled Park would be like a "mini-cup final" for
the home team, the Socceroos midfielder were far from overwhelmed
and were treating Fulham like any other pre-season opponent.
"He's talking shit," Culina said of Murphy.
"I think the boys would be a lot happier if we got to play
against Manchester United or Arsenal or something ... but Fulham,
yeah, big deal."
During his Dutch career with PSV Eindhoven, Culina has played
against much more fancied opposition than the west Londoners, who
finished seventh in the English Premier League last season, but the
majority of his Gold Coast teammates have never pitted themselves
against a club of such stature.
However, Culina said United coach Miron Bleiberg's focus was on
developing combinations rather than upsetting their more fancied
opponents.
"It doesn't matter who we're playing against. It doesn't matter
if it's a state league team or Fulham or a team from Singapore,
we'd like to play every game at our highest level.
"It's not so important who wins, it's all about cohesion in the
team and getting ourselves ready for the A-League season."
That season, their first in the national ompetition, begins in
less than a month, prior to which they have further friendlies
against Central Coast Mariners and Perth Glory.
Despite the spotlight on the contest with Fulham tomorrow,
Culina insists it is those two encounters against A-League
opposition that will give them a better gauge of their
progress.
"They're probably, when you think about it, more important games
to us."
Fulham are training at Skilled Park this morning where they've
been joined by Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer
I hope Fulham gives them a jolly good thrashing.
