Sydney FC star Alessandro Del Piero looks set to be deployed as a lone striker this season, with coach Frank Farina hoping his marquee man can have a greater impact in the attacking third.
Sydney FC star Alessandro Del Piero looks set to be deployed as a lone striker this season, with coach Frank Farina hoping his marquee man can have a greater impact in the attacking third.
The Italian, 38, enjoyed a fine first season in the A-League, scoring 14 goals in a team which failed to make the top six.
Del Piero was impressive playing in the number 10 role, the position in which he made his name during a stellar career at Juventus.
But Farina could lessen his defensive responsibilities by playing him as the central striker in a 4-3-3 formation.
”Alessandro is most dangerous in the final third. That’s where he creates and where he scores goals,” Farina told the Sydney Morning Herald.
”There’s no point having Alessandro picking the ball up 10 metres into our own half where he’s not going to be able to do what he does best.
”Hopefully in that role, when we win possession of the ball we can get the ball to him and others in areas we create. That’s been his greatest gift throughout his career.”
With the Sky Blues struggling last season, Del Piero often looked to start attacks from inside his own half.
Farina believes a role up front is similar to his previous position and expects Del Piero to have no problems adapting.
”His role is not going to be very different to what he’s used to so I think there’s not going to be any problem there,” he said.
”As long as everyone else, I’m talking 22, 21 players all understand what we’re trying to do.”
