Sydney FC Head Coach Frank Farina believes the Melbourne Victory will feel no ill effects from their Asian Champions League match last night as he said he expects Kevin Muscat’s squad to come out firing in the first half.
Sydney FC Head Coach Frank Farina believes the Melbourne Victory will feel no ill effects from their Asian Champions League match last night as he said he expects Kevin Muscat-s squad to come out firing in the first half.
The Sky Blues haven-t lost to the Victory all season, defeating the Victorians 5-0 in their previous meeting at Etihad Stadium; however Farina has dismissed past results as he likened Finals football to a brand new competition.
“Finals football everyone knows it-s a different ball game,” Farina said.
“It-s basically cup football, there-s no draws involved it-s got to be a result so it-s a different pressure.
What-s happened throughout the season has pretty much gone now and it-s a new competition as such.
“The statistics won-t count for anything on Friday. I think it-s a new mentality and a new sort of pressure that both teams will be under,” he continued.
“It-s important to try and come out early and 9 times out of 10 teams at home want to do the same thing particularly in big games so I-m expecting them to come out all guns blazing in the first 15-20 minutes.”
Never one to tinker with a winning squad Farina said he-ll stick with virtually the same team that earned him victories against the Wellington Phoenix and Perth Glory.
Farina did indicate however that Serbian front man Ranko Despotovic was back in contention having recovered from a knee injury.
“We-re on a decent roll of results at the moment and I think that can be confidence building as well going into these games,” Farina said.
“Ranko will travel with us so we-ll see how he goes in training today and our last session tomorrow.
“He-ll be part of the squad but it will pretty much be the same squad as last week.”
