Melbourne City boss Warren Joyce has warned Brisbane Roar his side will come out “all guns blazing” in Friday night’s Elimination Final at AAMI Park.
On the back of the club’s best-ever finish to a Hyundai A-League season, City are confident of making a huge dent in the Finals Series.
Despite a last-start 2-1 loss to Wellington Phoenix in Auckland, City have been in superb form over the last month.
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And Joyce hopes it’s those performances that will help get his side over the line and move them to within 90 minutes of a first-ever grand final.
“We want to come out with a really good performance, all guns blazing,” Joyce said.
“The players, to be fair to them, have been great this season,” Joyce said.
“They’ve got the highest position they’ve ever gotten. They’ve got equal the most wins the club’s ever had. Conceded the least goals the clubs has ever done in their history, the most clean sheets.
“But still you want more. You want to win every single game you play in.
“There’s not been many teams that have carved us open and given us loads of problems.”
City are hoping to welcome back skipper Michael Jakobsen, who has been named to return from a thigh injury after missing the loss to Phoenix.
If Jakobsen is ruled out again, Osama Malik is the man most likely to partner Bart Schenkeveld in the heart of defence.
It’s at the other end where City are really firing though, led by star striker Bruno Fornaroli, teenage sensation Daniel Arzani and former Roar playmaker Dario Vidosic.
After his long injury lay-off, Fornaroli has returned to his devastating best of late, scoring in each of his last four appearances, while Arzani continues to show his class amid calls for a Caltex Socceroos call-up for the FIFA World Cup.
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Vidosic started the season at Phoenix but moved to City in January and is delighted to be playing finals football.
“The move has been awesome. It was a nice Christmas present when [Joyce] gave me a call and said he wanted to bring me across,” Vidosic said.
“It was just eagerness to join a fantastic club and try to repay the faith.
“I’m happy with how I have contributed so far. Now is the time where, not just myself but everyone, we need a perfect performance [against Roar].”
City are undefeated in their last 10 games against Roar at AAMI Park, while they’ve also won two of the three clashes between the two clubs this season.
