Sydney FC coach Frank Farina does not expect the heat on him or the club to subside despite the Sky Blues’ courageous 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory.
Sydney FC coach Frank Farina does not expect the heat on him or the club to subside despite the Sky Blues’ courageous 3-2 win over Melbourne Victory at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night.
The hosts played a man down for 65 minutes after losing defender Marc Warren to a red card but dug deep to end a three-match losing streak that had Farina in the sight of critics.
But the coach has been around long enough – and is enough of a realist – to know the pressure will not ease after just one win.
“With us we’ve got to win every week – that’s the expectation otherwise people get on our backs,” Farina said.
“This is a big club, it’s Sydney FC, and next week’s the same. We’ll go in with an attitude it’s a must-win game.”
Sydney’s breakthrough win was achieved the hard way in a pulsating Big Blue that ebbed and flowed for 90 minutes.
They led 2-0 early before conceding an Archie Thompson tap-in, and then James Troisi struck from a free-kick on the back of Warren being sent off.
But they refused to wilt, retaking the lead via an Alessandro Del Piero penalty late in the first half and hanging on desperately at times to secure all three points.
“They were fantastic. They defended really well and kept a structure and worked hard and we deserved it,” Farina said.
Asked if ‘relief’ was the best way to describe his emotions, Farina replied: “No, more satisfaction.
“People don’t understand my make-up. I don’t let things get to me because if you do that and show you’re under pressure it goes on to your team.
“We’re a team. We win together and we lose together.
“They did the club proud.”
Midfielder Nicky Carle added: “We needed to really dig deep and I feel the graft and the team effort got us over the line.
“It’s not about being pretty, it was about rolling your sleeves up and making sure we put in the effort.
“We can go from this. It gives us some confidence.”
