Kevin Muscat has maintained that it may have been a “big risk” to play midfielder Keisuke Honda in the derby day match against Melbourne City.
The game saw Victory showing a lot of positive play during the first-half, but lacking in the attacking third. But Old Toivonen put one in the back of the net 10 minutes into the second period of play.
Yet Muscat’s men were unable to hold on to the slender lead as Dario Vidosic scored a stoppage time equaliser to deny the opposition a seventh straight win in the league.
However, there was some talk of the result having the potential to have looked very different had the Japanese midfielder been included in the squad. But the Victory boss believed that it could have been a huge gamble to play the 32-year-old, especially with a very busy period coming up.
“We trained yesterday and made the decision based on the quality that we have got in the side,” Muscat told the press. “Based on that and the amount of games we have got coming up, I didn’t see the reason to take what might have been a big risk.”
Speculation was rife concerning Honda being omitted prior to the game, and the former Rangers man confirmed that the decision had only been taken on the day.
Yet it remains unclear as to when the former AC Milan player will be back.
Muscat added: “He trained all week. He didn’t come out yesterday [Friday]. I just sensed Thursday that he was looking a little bit fatigued, I just had a feeling.
“I had a discussion with him on Thursday, I kept him inside on Friday, and made the decision today [Saturday] to leave him out.”
Victory have a very busy schedule ahead as they play seven matches in the span of a month, starting with a home game against Wellington Phoenix on Friday.
