''We have good players, technically like in Spain, at under 16 they have the same technique as players of Real Madrid under 16. But for me, the competition is the problem''.

Or lack of it, which is what he really means.

'There are not enough games. When one player of 16, 15, 14, is playing in Spain, he is playing minimum 35 games every year.

''They [the top level kids, the equivalent of those in A-League clubs academies] play also in the national team, so maybe it's 40-45 games every year.

''Here the competition is nothing like that.

'In Spain you are maybe 12 years old, not only in the academy of Real Madrid, but a small club, you are starting the competition in September and finishing in May and June. Nine or 10 months training, four times a week, playing one game.

''They continue 10 months training for football every day, playing every day, if you start at 12 years and finish at 18, you spend all your efforts at training every day and playing every weekened.

''I know it's a big country and the distance is a problem, but it's not easy to find good games against good teams.