Muscat was appointed after Postecoglou left,and spent most of the J-League’s mid-year break,when it went into recess around the Tokyo Olympics,in quarantine,unable to physically deal with his new squad nor his assistant coaches,former Australian players John Hutchinson and Shaun Ontong.
But that didn’t stop him hitting the ground running. In fact,he arrived at such a rapid pace that in his first four weeks in charge he did what many would have thought was the unthinkable and won the J-League Manager of the Month award.
It was a baptism of fire,given Yokohama had to play seven matches in 22 days and Muscat only got out of quarantine the day before they faced their opponents,J-League giants Gamba,away in Osaka.
They won that game 3-2 to kick-off a rampaging run of five wins and a draw,the only loss coming to Kashima Antlers in a game that Muscat’s men dominated with 73 per cent possession and eight shots on goal.
They got back to winning ways in their next game,a 3-1 win away at Hiroshima Sanfrecce last weekend,with the three points taking them to within a point of the hitherto runaway leaders Kawasaki Frontale,who do have a game in hand.
Muscat won’t speculate about a title challenge,but he knows that if he can continue to galvanise his team he could emulate Postecoglou and bring the title to Yokohama.
“It’s been good. The obvious challenge is coming into a team mid-season,albeit one that had very good foundations laid by Ange,” Muscat toldThe Ageand theSydney Morning Herald.