Confident in his team: Wanderers coach Tony Popovic.

Western Sydney Wanderers coach Tony Popovic has hailed the professionalism of his players in maintaining their focus on the Club World Cup despite the pay dispute that nearly saw them pull out of the tournament.

The players were on the brink of sitting out their quarter-final with Cruz Azul this Saturday night until a compromise was struck that brought the players an increased – albeit unspecified – share of the prizemoney for competing in the tournament.

They were originally unhappy with being offered only 10 per cent of the $1.2 million prizemoney on offer if they lost to the Mexicans but after considerable negotiation the club said on Thursday a solution had been reached.

Popovic said the players' commitment to being fully prepared, even when they were considering strike action, never wavered.

Advertisement

"It's unfortunate that there has been an issue in [the] public domain but I am not surprised to see how well they have looked after their bodies and have conducted themselves to prepare for a fantastic game, of which we are a part," he said. "As a coach I have seen nothing to worry me. I haven't seen any distractions. I have seen nothing different. I have seen a team that has prepared and trained very well."

The side remained unified in their approach and had prepared as well as he could have hoped from the moment they left Sydney last Sunday, he said.

"We see on paper that something has been resolved but for the last two days at training I have seen a group determined to do very well here," Popovic said. "There's a real unity among the staff and players. That is normal for me. I haven't seen a change and I don't envisage a change because I have been very happy with how they have looked since we arrived.

"Our training sessions have been good – Tuesday and Wednesday were excellent. It's probably one of the best sessions we've had in the while."

While the Wanderers' fans may be busy contemplating what lies ahead should they defeat the CONCACAF champions, Popovic says it's "incorrect" to look that far ahead.

"That would disrespectful to Cruz Azul. The last time I looked I saw 19 major trophies that they have won. That's a hell of a history," he said. "They, as well as us, want to play Real Madrid in the semi-final – and that's got to be our focus. It's a dream and a vision to be one game away from playing Real Madrid but our opponent looks at it the same way and our whole focus has been on this match on Saturday.

"There's a big job ahead and this will be very tough game. We will have to be really good to get through - and then hopefully we can talk about the dream game."

The Wanderers' mastermind has been running the rule over Cruz Azul relentlessly since the draw for the tournament was revealed and he believes the squad's deep experience may be the biggest asset of La Maquina.

"We've watched several of their games and they're a very good team. Like us, they've struggled a bit in the league, but we know that they're preparing well," he said. "They went to Spain [for a training camp] and played a few friendly games so they're taking this competition as you'd expect.

"They have some very good players in attack and a lot of experience. In terms of age, their squad has an average age of 28 or 29, with a lot of experience in big games. We don't have that, but we have a lot of confidence from winning a major competition only recently."

Popovic said the biggest hurdle for his men was to be psychologically fresh, having repeatedly forced themselves to rise for big matches in the past few months.

"In pre-season, to play a quarter-final, a semi and a final, you have pretty much played three grand finals where it takes a lot out of you physically and psychologically," he said. "It almost feels for the players like it's the end of the season, but you have to pick yourself up again and there's no greater tournament or game than this one now."

Popovic believed his players would manage to lift for the match when they considered what was at stake.

"The players realise the magnitude of this tournament, where they are playing and why they are here. We have to remember that only five weeks ago they were crowned the champions of Asia," he said. "That is why they are here – and actually why you [the media] are here. When you look at past winners, the coaches and teams that have been here and the celebrations they have had, you realise how big this competition is. We should be honoured and privileged to be here.

"The players want to do the Wanderers and Australian football proud. We have a lot of respect for the competition, and for Cruz Azul, but we want to show them we deserve to be here, which we do."

Describing the contest as another "grand final", Popovic said he had total confidence his battle-weary side – which at least carries no injuries – wouldn't let anyone down back home.

"This is the World Cup of clubs and we are here and will do ourselves proud on Saturday, I am sure of that," he said. "The group is ready. I know when we prepare well, we play well."