Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has dismissed talk of team disharmony after his side’s 2-1 victory over Melbourne Heart at Allianz Stadium.
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has dismissed talk of team disharmony after his side’s 2-1 victory over Melbourne Heart at Allianz Stadium.
Farina was grilled post-match over the decision to substitute Ali Abbas for Blake Powell in just the 39th minute of the match; a move which led to a heated exchange of words between Abbas and Alessandro Del Piero for the remainder of the half and threatened to boilover up the tunnel, before the warring pair were separated.
Farina defended the move and both of his players insisting it was a non-issue and that the substitution had little to do with Del Piero.
“It was a purely tactical change more than anything,” Farina said.
“That-s my call and I-ll never apologise for anything, the way I see games happen, it wasn-t happening for us.
“We-re playing at home, we should be bullying people and we were getting bullied in that first half and that was my response.
“I think it-s good to see that the players can fire up over that and I-d prefer that any day than people who just accept everything that-s said and it-s not a problem.”
Farina would further elaborate that Abbas and Del Piero had settled their differences post-match and that what was said would not be made public knowledge.
“You don-t have to worry about that,” Farina said when asked about the words used. “That doesn-t need to be made public, that-s something that stays within our dressing room and always will.
“It-s all sorted, I-ve seen a lot worse in dressing rooms. It-s not an issue, won-t be an issue and we move forward.”
Given the set up of the team where Del Piero is unquestionably the star it did raise the issue as to whether Abbas would be punished for his involvement, but Farina was adamant the Iraqi would not be reprimanded.
“I love fiery characters, I-d rather be trying to tame that, than giving it to people.
“He-s a good kid and he-ll give 100 per cent, sometimes it-s just not happening and someone has to make way and Ali had to make way this time.”
