Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Socceroos coach Tony Popovic insists star defender Alessandro Circati has made the right decision to give up regular first-team football in one of the world’s top leagues to join Portuguese giants Benfica.
Circati’s decision to leave Italian Serie A outfit Parma has divided opinion.
While Benfica is one of Portugal’s big three clubs and a regular in European competition, the Serie A is among the top five leagues in the world. Portugal’s Primeira Liga isn’t.
Circati, 22, was a starter in every game for Parma, one of Serie A’s smaller clubs.
At Benfica, Circati is already finding it tougher to secure first-team football.
However, Popovic said the “pressure” of having to fight for a first-team spot will benefit not only Circati, but also the Socceroos.
“Please let’s not look at it as a bad move because he has a few games on the bench,” the national team coach said.
“It’s a step up. He’s gone to a huge club with huge expectations that plays (this season in the) Europa League.
“It’s a wonderful move. It’s a fantastic move. It’s a move under pressure, and the boy has broad shoulders, and he will take on that challenge.
“We shouldn’t expect our players at their age to just walk into bigger clubs, bigger environments, bigger pressure, and just take someone’s spot.
“Of course I’d love ‘Ale’ to play every minute of every game, but this is part of the journey for him,
“If he plays regularly at Benfica, he then has an opportunity to go to an even higher level. That’s what we want. That’s what we need, and that’s what the national team needs.
“You’re assured of nothing … and that’s the exact same thing that we want to create with Socceroos.
“When ‘Ale’ Circati comes into (Socceroos) camp, he’s not assured of playing. That’s how it should be.”
And that’s not just the case for Circati, with Popovic intent on ensuring the battle for spots in the Socceroos’ best 11 increases ahead of next year’s AFC Asian Cup.
“We need the pressure of them trying to play, trying to keep their spot, and trying to evolve, and the higher you go, it becomes harder,” he said in reflecting on a host of off-season moves by Socceroos, including Lucas Herrington (Hull City, England), Nestory Irankunda (Sporting CP, Portugal) and Paul Okon-Engstler (FC Koln, Germany).
“We need 20, 25 players who when they come into (national team) camp … are hoping and praying to make the first 11, not ‘OK I’m a superstar, everyone tells me how good I am, so I must start for the Socceroos’.”
Popovic was delighted for Herrington following his move to the English Premier League from American club Colorado Rapids..
“He’s played in every game (at Hull). I’m really pleased for him,” he said of the former Brisbane Roar defender.
“He has a fantastic temperament, he’s a great young man, and his family should be very proud.
“He’s on the right track. We don’t need to put any unnecessary pressure on him.
“He’s naturally just evolving and growing as a young man and a young footballer, and … hopefully, we as the Socceroos can help him also grow as a player while he’s playing at international level.”
