Sydney FC’s Vedran Janjetovic says his first full season as a professional has been psychologically his toughest yet, but believes it has turned him into a better player. The goalkeeper is preparing to face the Wellington Phoenix in a crucial match that could decide the Sky Blues finals fate at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick off 5pm).
Sydney FC-s Vedran Janjetovic says his first full season as a professional has been psychologically his toughest yet, but believes it has turned him into a better player. The goalkeeper is preparing to face the Wellington Phoenix in a crucial match that could decide the Sky Blues finals fate at Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick off 5pm).
Janjetovic has played every minute of every game so far this season (2250 minutes) and said he has learnt a lot about himself in the 26 matches he-s played, as he reflected on a season he described as mentally demanding.
“It-s definitely been draining just mentally, but I can-t take anything negative from it, it-s all positives,” said Janjetovic.
“It-s been a long season, it-s been up and down but we-re almost at the end now.
“If we get these two wins we-ll be in the top 6 and then from there it-s a fresh breath of air for the boys.
“I-d love to make it just for the fans, I-m sure they-ll be backing us and I hope they-ll come out in great support for us because it absolutely means the world to us as well, it-s so much different when they-re there.”
The Sky Blues can wrap up their spot in the top six with a win against the Phoenix, providing earlier results go their way, and while Janjetovic is pleased that Sydney FC are in control of their own destiny this season he is wary of the threat the Phoenix pose as they seek their own berth in the finals.
“They-re a difficult team to play, they come with all sorts,” said Janjetovic.
“They-re unpredictable, they-ve got a good strike force and they-ve got good defenders so they-re a mixed bag of tricks so I don-t expect anything less than for them to come out and be firing.
“We-ve got our chance now this is it, the boys are working hard and have been training really well, everyone-s putting in effort and I don-t see why we can-t get the three points,” he continued.
“We-re not going to go into the game lightly at all because they-re still technically in with a chance as well so we-re taking this game very seriously and we-ll go into it prepared like every other game so if we get the win we get the three points and we-re almost there.”
