Robbie Fowler is unable to hide the excitement of beginning his Brisbane Roar tenure in the FFA Cup against Sydney FC on Wednesday night.
But the Liverpool legend concedes his side have the odds stacked against them when he takes charge of his first competitive match as Roar boss against the Sky Blues at Leichhardt oval.
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While Fowler has played in some huge matches in his career – including FA Cup and UEFA Cup finals – he is sure to have a few nerves heading into his managerial debut.
But any nerves are likely to give way to sheer excitement when kick-off comes at 7.30pm on Wednesday.
“I can’t wait. When the draw was announced we knew it was a big game for us. We know how important this is,” Fowler told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday.
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“It's a big, big game for the lads and for me, especially, I can't wait, I really can't. I've been proper excited for a while now.
“Sydney are a magnificent team, I don’t think you can deny that. Of course it’s a tough start but we’re not a bad bunch ourselves.
“We go into the game as massive underdogs, we know that, but sometimes underdogs win games.”
While Roar have endured a torrid history in the FFA Cup to date – their 4-0 win over Stirling Lions in 2014 being the club's only win in the competition - the prospect of a cup run is something that is motivating Fowler and his squad.
Feature image courtesy of AAP
After a forgettable Hyundai A-League 2018/19 campaign, Roar have been back at work for over five weeks to ensure they are ready to produce their best for tomorrow night.
“We’ve worked hard to get where we are. For me, [the start of pre-season] was about getting us ready for this game,” Fowler admitted.
“I know everyone has plans for having teams ready for the start of the A-League, but for us it was the start of the FFA Cup.
“For me, it’s important. We planned for this, we really did.
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"We've got the players as ready as they can be. It's a big game. We've got nothing to lose,” the former England international added.
"Hopefully all the pressure will be on Sydney and our lads can just go out there and perform to the best that they can. I'm sure we'll make a game of it."
Fowler has made more than a dozen new signings to the Roar squad for the new season, with many expected to get a chance to impress on Wednesday night.
