Melbourne Victory haven’t spent Hyundai A-League grand final week searching for chinks in Premiers Sydney FC’s armour. Instead, they’re concentrating on their own strengths.
Grand Final Preview: Sydney v Victory
While acknowledging the Sky Blues’ outstanding campaign, Victory’s master marksman Besart Berisha left no doubt about where his focus has been in the lead-up to Sunday’s Big Blue blockbuster.
“They had an amazing season – they’re a very strong side,” Berisha told reporters when asked about Sydney FC.
“But the most important [thing] is not to look at where their good side is and their bad side is.
“The most important [thing] is to look where our good side is and perform the best in this game.
“What counts is to look after us,” he said.
US, NOT THEM
After a record-breaking season, Sydney FC are warm favourites to win a third championship.
But the weight of expectation on them has been a talking point this week.
However, Berisha wouldn’t be drawn on how much pressure there might be on the Sky Blues to cap their all-conquering season.
“I’ll leave it to them [with] how much pressure they have,” said the Kosovo international.
“We are ready – we are looking forward to it.
“We are very focused – we’re working really intensive and hard and preparing for the big game.
“I can see it in training, I can see that we’re hungry and we want more.
“This is what football players play for.
“For me it’s something special playing another grand final.
“These are the moments when you have to make sure you want to step up to win another trophy,” he said.
THE PAST REMAINS THERE
Despite Victory taking the lead in two of the three meetings between the sides this season, the Sky Blues won all three encounters.
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But that won’t matter on Sunday according to Berisha.
“We can score against them, we can play good football,” said Berisha.
“We proved against Brisbane how dangerous we are, how good we are defensively and the way we play up front.
“We believe that we can do it and we go there with big motivation,” he said.
THE TANK IS FULL
And on the eve of his fourth Hyundai A-League grand final, Berisha said the whole Victory squad is fit and firing.
“Everyone is 100 percent this week,” he said.
“Even if [we’re] not, these are the games where we lift.
“Everybody is not 100 – everyone is 1000 percent,” Berisha declared.
