It's an A-League which continues to gain credibility and respect in Asia at a far greater rate than it does at home. We've already produced a champion and a runner-up in the ACL in just nine years of participation, and those two clubs — Western Sydney Wanderers and Adelaide United — will be back next year. Did that knowledge take the edge off the Wanderers' performance in the grand final? It's a valid discussion. There's no doubt playing in the ACL is becoming a bigger and bigger deal for owners and coaches — maybe even more important than the championship. With ACL bonuses starting to become the norm, even the players are starting to look like they care.

That's a least part of the explanation why two clubs who were such epic disappointments in the domestic season have done so well, so far, in Asia. In Sydney FC's case, it's especially remarkable. 2016 has been a catastrophe for the Sky Blues in the A-League, but here they are, topping the toughest group in the ACL, ahead of three former ACL winners including the richest team in Asia, Guangzhou Evergrande. Incredibly, but not surprisingly, it's an achievement which seems to have earned more bricks than bouquets from the club's loudest and most opinionated fans.

Scrutinise the teamsheet for this week's final group match in Guangzhou, and you get an idea of how the ACL has managed to switch on a squad whose effort, and commitment, was often questioned — and rightly so — during the back end of the A-League season. And perhaps Graham Arnold's depth is deeper than he imagined. Riley Woodcock, Robert Stambolziev, George Blackwood, Andrew Hoole, Alex Mullen, Christopher Naumoff and Zac Anderson were hardly the first names on his A-League teamsheet, but there they were in the cauldron of the Tianhe Stadium — stepping up to the plate against a seasoned team desperate to salvage some pride in front of 33,500 unforgiving fans. A point was proven.

Add the fact that one of the designated foreigners, Mikael Tavares, has left the club, Matt Simon was suspended and three other players were left out to avoid suspension, and it's fair to say Arnold had to dig right to the bottom of the well. In the circumstances the 1-0 loss was a worthy effort, and it might have been better if Shane Smeltz had his scoring boots on. Yes, the Sky Blues can thank Pohang Steelers for finishing top of the group with only 10 points and four goals, but luck is often a factor in these things. Take it when you get it, which is why the moaning from a section of Sky Blues fans must be hard for the dressing room to take.

For all that, there are lessons in all this for Arnold. Choosing Tavares over Filip Holosko for a foreign spot was a costly mistake. And a bit more faith in some of his fringe players when the first-teamers were in free-fall might have given more purpose to Sydney FC's domestic season. Yet given all the circumstances, it's been 'Mission Accomplished' nonetheless.

A final point well worth noting. Thirty two clubs from 11 countries competed in the group stage of the ACL. Seventy five per cent of them have bigger budgets than Sydney FC and Melbourne Victory, in some cases five-to-10 fold. Nine countries will be represented in the round of 16. Only two had a 100 per cent survival rate. Australia and Qatar. And we know the budgets of Lekhwiya and El Jaish dwarf those of the Sky Blues and Victory. All this may be under-appreciated here in Australia, but the rest of Asia is definitely starting to sit up and taking notice.