Cahill proved Australia critics are blind - Postecoglou

The Socceroos romped into the last four of the Asian Cup at China's expense and their coach believes it is because of the rotation he had previously been given stick for

Ange Postecoglou has slammed Australia's critics after his resting of key players such as Tim Cahill in their final Asian Cup group game helped them see off China in a 2-0 victory on Thursday.
After the Socceroos' 1-0 loss to South Korea at the climax of Group A, questions were raised as to whether Postecoglou was right to rotate his attacking options including Cahill, whose double was the difference in the quarter-final triumph over China in Brisbane.

A win or draw against South Korea would have seen the Socceroos finish top of the group and avoid a potential encounter with Japan in Newcastle for a place in the final.
Australia's head coach, 49, hit back at sections of the media by saying his man-management of players was the reason the host nation's made the last four.
"I still shake my head sometimes with some of the things I hear or read," Postecoglou told reporters. "The reason Cahill does so fantastically well for us is because we manage him really well.

"We rested him against Korea because we knew that this game was going to be important and we saw tonight that in the penalty box he is still world class.
"And same with Mark Bresciano, he was unlucky not to get the goal, but we needed experience tonight, and those two and Mile [Jedinak], he worked his way into the game, I thought those three were really good.

"I'm continually having to say the same story and it's frustrating the hell out of me because people can't see what I see in this team.
"Well, I think the supporters do, the fans understand that this is an exciting team. For people to be talking about what happens if we get eliminated tonight, seriously. We started something 14 months ago and I reckon we've stuck to that plan.
"I'll be held accountable if we ever move away from that plan, but we've stuck to that plan and we're delivering."
Australia will face Japan or United Arab Emirates in the semi-finals, with the winner set to clash with South Korea, Iran or Iraq on January 31

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