Newcastle Jets head coach Mark Milligan has told his players to keep playing with courage and to remember that Australian footballers are capable of matching Asia's best, as the club prepares to host Shanghai Port in the AFC Champions League Elite on Tuesday night. The Jets have lost all three of their group matches so far in the 2026/27 campaign, conceding 15 goals across those games, according to The Canberra Times.
The A-League Men side opened their continental campaign with a 7-1 defeat to Kashima Antlers, then lost 3-1 to Gamba Osaka and 5-2 to Kyoto Sanga. All three losses came against Japanese opposition, and Shanghai Port will present a different but equally demanding test.
Why it matters
Newcastle's results have raised questions about whether an Australian club can remain competitive in Asia's top club competition, particularly given the gap in squad depth and spending between the Jets and their opponents. Milligan's response has been to argue that the scorelines do not tell the full story of how his team has performed.
Speaking on Monday, the day before the match, Milligan said the difference in resources should not be treated as a reason his side cannot compete. He said observers were gradually seeing improvement in the Jets' ability to match their opponents, and that the process would take time.
He added that the challenge was mental as much as tactical — his players should avoid frustration and should not let results alone shape how they judge their own performances. Milligan said he could easily become frustrated himself, but that when he reviewed the games he saw nothing to suggest the team was heading in the wrong direction.
A familiar opponent in the opposing dugout
Shanghai Port are coached by Kevin Muscat, whom Milligan knows well from their time together at Melbourne Victory, where Milligan played under him. The Canberra Times reports that Muscat has won three trophies as Shanghai's coach: the 2024 and 2025 Chinese Super League titles and the 2024 Chinese FA Cup.
Shanghai sit fifth in the Chinese Super League going into the final round of their season. In the AFC Champions League Elite, they have recorded one win, one draw and one loss from their three matches.
Milligan's message to his squad centres on belief. He said the players should keep reminding themselves that Australian players are good enough, and that continued learning and growth are necessary parts of adapting to the level of opposition they now face. He stressed that the team must be bold in how it plays, pointing to periods within matches where the Jets have shown they can do more than simply hold their own.
Fixture congestion adds to the load
Newcastle's domestic form has also been difficult. The club has two draws and a loss from its first three A-League Men fixtures, including a 3-0 defeat to Wellington last week, leaving the Jets near the foot of the table. Across all competitions, the side is without a win in six matches.
Milligan acknowledged that the crowded schedule has made the task harder, but said he welcomes the opportunity to play in an elite Asian competition. The Jets have continued to receive support from staff and supporters in Newcastle as they work through the run.
The Jets host Shanghai Port on Tuesday night.
What to watch: whether Newcastle can convert Milligan's calls for bravery into a first Champions League Elite point, and how they handle Shanghai's attacking threat.
