Bruno Fornaroli has endured a frustrating third season in the Hyundai A-League.
But the master Melbourne City marksman is determined to end his injury-ravaged 2017/18 campaign on a high.
Fornaroli broke his ankle during an FFA Cup tie in City’s pre-season and didn’t make a return until mid-February.
But the marksman quickly rediscovered his goalscoring groove, netting five times in the last six games of the season to help City achieve their highest ever finishing position in the Hyundai A-League.
Now he wants to drive them into their first Hyundai A-League Grand Final.
“It would be a gift for me,” Fornaroli said on the eve of tonight’s semi-final against Newcastle.
“After the hard year for me personally and working hard inside to try to do everything to come back quickly and stronger, I think, why not?
“I expect this and I want this,” he said.
While Fornaroli is fit and firing, the man who replaced him as captain this season will again be missing tonight.
Danish defender Michael Jakobsen hasn’t recovered from the quad injury which has seen him miss the last two games.
“It’s hard because he’s done very well this season,” Fornaroli said.
“But we can’t think too much about [it] because Ossie [Malik] did very well last week and we have confidence in him.
“We’ll try to win tomorrow and Michael will try to get fit for the Grand Final.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bhxrn7ulj7V/?hl=en&taken-by=brunofornaroli
Melbourne City have the upper hand over the Jets this season, winning twice at McDonald Jones Stadium, the scene of tonight’s must-win game.
The two sides have shared ten goals in their three meetings but Fornaroli expects a far cagier affair tonight.
“This is a different game,” he declared.
“You don’t have a second opportunity, so I think both teams will be careful.
#OneCity #OneGoal. Bring on Friday night! ??? #NEWvMCY #ALeagueFinals pic.twitter.com/qeRH8uRaRB
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 26, 2018
“Of course if someone scores early, the game will become open but we can’t compare it or expect the same kind of game as before.
“[We have] big confidence because I think we played well last week and we’ve trained very well this week.
“We’re ready.”
