STILL BELIEVING: Roar defender Shane Stefanutto. Picture: Peter Wallis Source: The Courier-Mail
THEY are second-last on the ladder after a demoralising hat-trick of defeats, but veteran defender Shane Stefanutto is adamant the Brisbane Roar can still win the A-League title.
Despite the team losing a competition-high 10 games in a tumultuous and controversial season - including a change of coach and losing to newcomers Western Sydney three times, and underlined by Sunday's 2-1 home loss to the Wanderers - Stefanutto said nobody at the Roar was throwing in the towel.
"Our goals are not just to make the finals, our goals are to win this competition ... our goals are to finish top," Stefanutto said.
"Whether that is arrogant or not, as a successful team, that is what we want to achieve.
"I think when we've got 10 games to play and 30 points to play for, it is (possible).
"I don't think at the moment there would be many people that will believe in that, but us a group and as a team, we have to keep believing that we can do it."
Brisbane are just four points outside the A-League's top six, with 10 rounds remaining in the regular season.
The numbers say the Roar are still in the hunt, but the quality of football is a world away from Brisbane being legitimate contenders again.
But Stefanutto is confident the reigning champions can click back into gear.
"We've got the players, there's no doubting that. It's just now about putting it all together for that 90 minutes and hoping that we start moving up the table as quickly as possible," Stefanutto said.
Brisbane face a make-or-break month, with a trip to Perth on Australia Day followed by clashes with Central Coast (home), Sydney (away), Wellington (home) and Newcastle (away).
Stefanutto will miss the grand final rematch against the Glory this Saturday, after picking up his fifth yellow card for the season on Sunday, but is confident the Roar will lift at the business end of the campaign.
"It's frustrating at the moment (but) we live for these big games and big occasions, and there is no bigger occasion than going to Perth," Stefanutto said.
Liverpool and Juventus representatives will be scouting Melbourne Victory winger Marco Rojas at AAMI Park in Saturday's blockbuster against Sydney FC.
The Courier-Mail understands the two world football giants have tracked Rojas in recent weeks and want to watch him against Sydney FC before deciding whether to launch bids.
Should he impress, one or both could make offers for the 21-year-old as early as next week.
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