Kenny Lowe is daring to dream. And the charismatic Perth Glory boss is urging his players to do the same ahead of Saturday’s Hyundai A-League do-or-die semi-final against Sydney FC.
Perth have lost all three games against the Sky Blues this season.
But Lowe wants his players to embrace the “romance” of football in their biggest game of the season at Allianz on Saturday night.
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UP FOR THE CUP
“It’s not another league game – it’s a Cup game,” Lowe told reporters ahead of the flight to Sydney from Perth.
“There’s a lot at stake – before it was three points and you roll to the next game.
“There’s nothing after this if you get beat.
“You don’t roll into another game and you don’t go into training next week – it’s game over.
“We want to extend the season.
“It’s a cup game and that’s the beauty.
“There’s a lot of romance in the cup and why can’t there be romance with us – a little bit of a dream and get to the Grand Final?” he asked.
WE CAN BE HISTORY MAKERS, TOO
While it’s been a record-breaking season for the Sky Blues, Lowe wants his side to believe they can write their own chapter into the Hyundai A-League annals.
“Sydney want to create history, but why can’t we?” said Lowe.
“[Why can’t we] be the only team outside the top two to go on and win it?
“It doesn’t mean we’re going to, but it doesn’t stop you having that aspiration and that dream.
“They [Sydney] want to create history and they’ll be devastated if they don’t.
“Everyone’s talking about them as being the best team ever and rightly so – they’re a super team – but the bottom line is you’ve got to win something.
“It’s just two teams – they’ve got two arms, two legs, one head.
“Anything can happen on the day,” Lowe said.
DON’T FORGET TO SMILE
There’s no doubt that everything – including the pressure on players – ramps up at finals time.
But the Glory boss has encouraged his side to enjoy the big occasion.
“In any walk of life, if there’s no giggle, get out of there,” said Lowe.
“It doesn’t matter what you do – you’ve got to come to work and enjoy yourself.
“If you don’t enjoy yourself, look for another job.
“We’re going to go there and have some fun and if we continue in the same vein we have in the last 14 games we’ll come away with a positive result,” he said.
KING CASTRO TO REIGN AGAIN?
And Lowe left no doubt where his vote for the Johnny Warren Medal would be going this year, backing his Spanish playmaker Diego Castro to win back-to-back gongs.
“If he doesn’t, it’s a bit embarrassing,” said Lowe.
“He’s the best player in the league by a country mile.”
