Sydney FC have suffered a blow ahead of their clash with Adelaide United, with Alessandro Del Piero ruled out due to injury.
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina has called for better protection of Hyundai A-League playmakers after Alessandro Del Piero was ruled out of the Sky Blues- clash with Adelaide United on New Years Eve.
Del Piero was fouled repeatedly during the 1-0 victory over the Central Coast and has been ruled out of tomorrow-s match with Achilles and calf soreness.
The injury is a blow to Sydney FC and the people of Adelaide but Farina was adamant Del Piero, and other playmakers, required better protection during matches.
“Alessandro has pulled up really sore in the Achilles and calf after Thursday-s match and he isn-t fit to travel to Adelaide,” Farina said.
“He got fouled eight or ten times during the match and with the short turn around he hasn-t been able to train and he-s not fit to play.
“It-s a blow for us and a shame for the people of Adelaide but I think there needs to be better protection for him on the field. We play a physical game and Alessandro is a big boy who can handle himself but he is getting kicked repeatedly and if that continues he will miss games through injury.
“Hopefully he will be able to recover in time for the next away trip to Perth.”
Del Piero-s omission further depletes the Sydney FC side but Farina believes that the Sky Blues can continue its resurgence if it shows the same drive and fight the players displayed during Thursday-s 1-0 win over the Central Coast.
“I was pleased with the fight we showed against Central Coast and very pleased with how we played. If we can continue that then we will continue to improve and pick up points,” Farina said. “The players have set a standard for themselves and it-s now up to them to maintain it.”
Sydney FC will be missing Del Piero, Ivan Necevski, Fabio, Pascal Bosschaart, Jason Culina, Joel Chianese, Mitch Mallia, Kruno Lovrek and Paul Reid for the clash with Adelaide.