Mark Bridge and Nikolai Topor-Stanley. Picture: Stephen Cooper Source: News Corp Australia

The players remain locked in a dispute with club management over player payments for the tournament in Morocco after talks again broke down yesterday, despite earlier suggestions Wanderers officials may be prepared to soften their stance.

The players want their share of tournament prizemoney increased from 10 per cent should they lose to the Mexican heavyweights Cruz Azul on Sunday morning (AEDT) but the club has so far refused to budge on the initial offer.

Wanderers players are refusing to back down from a threat to sit out the opener despite being desperate to play in a match that could lead to a “once in a lifetime” showdown with Real Madrid.

There was little evidence to suggest the controversy was affecting team preparations as coach Tony Popovic oversaw a training session lasting more than two hours yesterday and captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley commended the attitude shown by the squad.

“It’s not ideal, but this is football. It constantly throws challenges your way,” Topor-Stanley told reporters in Rabat. “You have to deal with it with solidarity, which is I think what we’re doing.

“Everyone’s on the same page here, everyone’s together so I haven’t had to do anything special.

“That’s something that’s been part of this group from day one, we’ve overcome a lot of adversity at every step of the way, and we’ll continue to do so.”

Topor-Stanley said the players were excited at the prospect of facing a team they had idolised since they were young.

“But at the same time this is an issue that we feel very strongly about as a group,” he said.

Under the current offer Wanderers players would receive about $2500 each after tax if they lose to the North American champions. They would receive a bigger share of increased prizemoney should they progress but the players feel the payment model is grossly unfair.

Wanderers board members arrived in Morocco on Tuesday night and Professional Footballers Australia (PFA) had hoped a resolution was close amid talk the club was tabling an improved offer, but no progress has been made.

Should the matter stay unresolved in the next 48 hours the players must decide whether to follow through with a boycott or play on and seek arbitration after the tournament. Striker Tomi Juric said the players had little choice but to stay focused on football for the time being.

“I think that’s the only way to look at it at the moment,” he said.

“It’s a great opportunity and a great stage for us to compete on and all the other little things will sort themselves out, I’m sure.”

The Wanderers are long outsiders to beat Cruz Azul, who have also started their preparations in Rabat.

The Asian champions are winless after the opening nine rounds of the A-League but believe the buzz created from the prestigious event can help them bounce back and also reverse their domestic fortunes.

“It is a welcome change and I think we needed it,” Topor-Stanley said.

Cruz Azul, who are littered with Mexico internationals, believe they have a team capable of winning the entire tournament but Wanderers keeper Ante Covic expects they will show plenty of respect.

“I think a lot of people stood up and took notice of us in the ACL campaign,” Covic said. “This so-called small team from Australia, going all the way, people are going to have an eye on it.”

The Wanderers can take inspiration from New Zealand neighbours Auckland City, who upset local champions Moghreb Tetouan on penalties in the tournament opener yesterday.

AAP