An inexperienced Roar were edged 1-0 by the visitors after Thijssen made eight changes ahead of Roar’s midweek trip to China.
“No, I like to win all the games but you have to be clever too and think about a lot of things,” Thijssen said.
“I haven’t changed a lot but now it was time to give players a rest, especially when you have four muscular problems in a row and you miss Shane Stefanutto and Luke DeVere for the rest of the season.
“If that happens again then you think we have a big problem so it was a good reason to give these young boys a go.”
Thijssen praised his young team for competing well against a Victory side which was desperate to all but seal the Premier’s Plate.
“I was quite pleased with the team and especially looking at players who played for the first time in a big stadium,” he said.
“That’s a good sign that you have a lot of talented players behind that (senior) group.”
“They showed they can do a good job in the future.”
Thijssen did have a positive injury news for Jerome Polenz and goalkeeper Michael Theo, who he expects will be fit to play after the midweek AFC Champions League match.
