Coach, Cahill drop bombshells

The Socceroos secured their spot at next year’s World Cup with a 3-1 win against Honduras on Wednesday night, but the result was immediately overshadowed as two of our leading men cast doubt over their futures.

Postecoglou has been reportedly planning to step down before next year’s tournament and did nothing to silence doubts over his commitment to the national team with another cryptic post-match interview.

He called this qualifying campaign the “hardest thing I’ve ever done” and failed to give a firm answer when asked if he would be joining the players in Russia.

“I’m going to enjoy tonight. I owe it to myself, I owe it to my wife, my kids,” Postecoglou said. “I’m pretty thick-skinned but they’ve had to endure a lot.

“I’ll sit down with the powers-that-be over the next few days and we’ll discuss everything, bring it to a head and make a decision.”

Postecoglou’s demeanour has been under heavy scrutiny as the qualifying phase wore on, his decisions facing increasing criticism as the Socceroos took the most difficult route to reach football’s showpiece event.

He created a siege mentality as he copped heat for his tactics, selections and approach to dealing with the media. He admitted the “burden” of coaching the national side had taken its toll on him.

“It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done these last four years. Going to a World Cup (in 2014) with really a rookie squad and knowing we had to win the Asian Cup (in 2015),” he said.

“Coaching your own country has its advantages but the one disadvantage is if things go wrong there’s nowhere to hide.”

His comments caused a stir as former greats John Aloisi, Mark Bosnich and Robbie Slater pored over what Postecoglou was saying. Aloisi doesn’t believe the 52-year-old will stay at the helm.

“There must be something he’s unhappy with. ‘Bring it to a head’ means he’s unhappy,” Aloisi told Fox Sports.

“You could see how relieved he was because now you’ve got more power when you qualify … there’s something he’s not happy with. I can’t see him staying on.”

Slater said there must be “some problem only he knows about” but Bosnich disagreed with Aloisi, interpreting Postecoglou’s comments to mean he’ll stay on for the World Cup.

“I think he’ll stay and he’ll go to a World Cup … He’s earnt the right to do what he wants,” Bosnich said.

CAHILL EYEING A MOVE?

Cahill also raised eyebrows with his post-game remarks, saying he “needs game time” if he wants to put his hand up for selection in Russia.

The Melbourne City star has played just 61 minutes in the A-League this season and started only once — a performance that ended early when he suffered the ankle injury that ruled him out of the first leg against Honduras in San Pedro Sula.

Aloisi believes Cahill will leave Melbourne City if he isn’t guaranteed more minutes.

“I found it very interesting. He virtually said if he doesn’t get game time he’s off, he’s away from Melbourne City,” Aloisi said.

“Because he wants to go to the World Cup and he knows he needs to play regular football to get there. I was surprised because there must be something behind it for him to make that comment.

“If that doesn’t mean he’s part of that set-up then that means Tim Cahill leaves Melbourne City.

“It’s interesting times for Timmy because he needs to play, wants to play, but does he get the game time?”

Slater said: “I think it was a challenge to Melbourne City that he needs to play.”