As Sunday’s first-versus-second blockbuster between Sydney and Gold Coast approaches, United coach Miron Bleiberg is relishing the thought of going top of the Hyundai A-league, a position the club hasn’t been in since Round 11.
Gold Coast’s 2-0 win over Newcastle on Wednesday night set up the Round 23 clash perfectly, leaving Bleiberg to declare that these types of matches are what football is all about.
“I think every coach and every player waits for this type of game, the top of the ladder game,” he said.
“It’s a big game against Sydney, you go to the big city and it’s first against second, these are the games that stick in your memory when your 75 years old and in the old people house.”
“We are not much better than Sydney, we beat them twice and logic prevails that now it’s their turn, but if you want to look at the half-full of the glass we beat them twice and maybe we have the advantage.”
In the lead-up to Gold Coast playing three games in eight days, Bleiberg previously said that he would be happy with seven points from the three matches assuming United would take the points over Adelaide and Newcastle.
But as the Hyundai A-league has proved so often this year, no team can be guaranteed the win and as such every point in the lead-up to the finals has now become crucial.
“I can reveal now had we beaten Adelaide maybe I would have gone for a draw, but now we have to go for the win against Sydney and whatever happens, happens,” he said.
“That’s the situation, it’s a good feeling to be there (second on the table) and it was important to consider what was more important to beat Adelaide or Newcastle? If we had the choice it was Newcastle because we were able to open to gap from Newcastle.”
“The job’s not done yet but we can finish one two or three … for a new club we should pat each other on the back.”
Going into the match Gold Coast has just one injury concern with Charlie Miller picking up a corked thigh against Newcastle. He will be given up until the last moment to recover but the squad will be boosted by the return of Steve Pantelidis.
The defensive enforcer, who sat out the last two matches through an accumulation of yellow cards, is eager for a return to the action and the 26-year-old said the tussle with Sydney is something he’s been looking forward to.
“It’s great to be back involved again; it’s no fun watching from the sidelines, even though the boys did very well on Wednesday,” Pantelidis said.
“The game couldn’t be bigger really. The top two teams taking each other on with only five games left – it’s huge and I’m sure Sydney are looking forward to the match as much as we are.”
“Sunday’s game is a massive one for us and we’re going into it in good form. We’ve taken 10 points from a possible 12 in our last four games, so we have every reason to feel confident at the moment.”
