Ryan's Socceroos position is on a sound footing

Australia goalkeeper Mat Ryan gave an insight into the special bond coach Ange Postecoglou has created within the national squad in its campaign to reach the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

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Mat Ryan starts another attack against UAE Source: Getty

Ryan was back in goal for the crucial qualifier against the United Arab Emirates and kept a clean sheet as the Socceroos consolidated third spot in qualifying Group B with a 2-0 victory.

Many people were surprised to see Ryan dropped in favour of Mitch Langerak for the previous match against Iraq and probably similarly surprised to see the Genk keeper regain his place after the Stuttgart man played solidly in Tehran.

Ryan got the nod because of his ability with his feet that enables him to act as a 'sweeper' behind the back three.
That is the way it is in the Australian camp and Ryan is not complaining.

"It is clear what the boss wants. No one owns his position and he likes to keep everybody on their toes," Ryan said after the game.

"No one is a guaranteed starter. Obviously I was disappointed I did not start in Tehran but Mitch did a great job that helped the team greatly.

"This shows the depth we've got. If you look at all the great teams in the world they have great players (competing) for every single position.

"It was my turn today and I tried to do the best. Mitch and I have a good professional relationship. We both are disappointed when we are not playing but we are not going to jeopardise each other's position by making an issue or a problem out of it.

"We both are going to do our best to help whoever is playing.

"We will keep our personal feelings aside and keep pushing ourselves and do what's best for the team."

Ryan said he was glad to see Sydney FC's Danny Vukovic in the national set-up.

"It was great to have Vuka in camp. He's in great form for Sydney. He was my idol when I was starting out (at Central Coast Mariners)," he said.

Postecoglou must be delighted with the fact that for the first time in his three-and-a-half-year tenure as Socceroos coach he has two quality goalkeepers playing regularly in Europe.

"It's great, it's exactly what we want to be doing ... we are trying to create depth," the coach said.

"I want them pushing reach other. We have not had them both going (with their clubs) at the same time unfortunately but now they have come into camp with both of them playing regularly. Danny Vukovic was impressive at training too."

Postecoglou explained the rationale behind his decision to go with Langerak in Tehran and Ryan in Sydney.

"Sometimes it's horses for courses. We felt the other night that Iraq would bombard us and play direct which is what happened and the ground the way it was would not have allowed us to play out from the back," he said.

"Maty was brilliant tonight and it helps that he is actually playing regularly now. He looked sharp and determined and missing out the other night made him focus even more."

Ryan and Langerak will be back in action for their clubs on Monday morning (AEST).

Genk play Lokeren in Belgium's UEFA Europa League playoffs while Stuttgart face Dynamo Dresden in Germany's Bundesliga.2


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3 min read
Published 29 March 2017 9:57am
Updated 29 March 2017 10:48am
By Philip Micallef
Source: SBS


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