New Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka has backed his side to make a statement against Hyundai A-League newcomers North Queensland Fury in their season opener on August 8.
Since taking over the reins in April, the Czech national has put his charges through a rigorous pre-season schedule of 13 matches – nine against State League opposition and four against A-League foes.
The Sky Blues are yet to taste defeat under Lavicka, whose last assignment was with European heavyweights Sparta Prague, notching 11 victories and two draws.
And the well-credentialed mentor is quietly confident heading into the season proper.
“In this moment I have a good feeling,” Lavicka said on Thursday.
“I’m happy with all the pre-season, it’s different from Europe because here we have 15 weeks pre-season, in Europe it’s five or seven weeks.”
“I appreciate the professional attitude of all the team and club members, they’ve worked hard.”
“We played several pre-season games and the good results gave us good feedback for our work but still it’s only the pre-season. The main season is different to pre-season but we are hungry to start the main season.”
Despite his obvious optimism, Lavicka is under no illusions ahead of his first regular season fixture.
“It is a new experience for me as well, I’ve spoken with people in the club, it’s a different climate there (in Townsville) and will be a very difficult game,” he said.
“It’s the first game of the new team in the A-League so is difficult for us but I trust and we believe that we will be successful.”
“Targets for the whole season we have but the first step on the road to success is very important, we will have the first step in Round 1 at North Queensland Fury.”
Lavicka expects to have a full complement of players to choose from in Round 1 including marquee striker John Aloisi.
The 33-year-old is nursing an ankle injury suffered against the Newcastle Jets earlier this month and was restricted to sideline drills at Thursday’s training session.
But the coach played down suggestions his main attacking weapon will miss the start of the campaign for the second straight season.
“We all expect and believe that Johnny will be ok and he’s very close to being ok in this moment,” he said.
“He’s already an important part of our play, he’s a strong, experienced striker and during the pre-season games he played very well.”
“He was fit during the 11 weeks pre-season and worked very hard like the other players but last two weeks he’s had some small injury problem, but we believe Johnny will be ok and ready to play.”
Meanwhile, Swiss defender Stephan Keller agreed to terms with Sydney FC on Friday, joining Slovakian international Karol Kisel and South Korean defender Byun Sung-Hwan as the only additions to last season’s squad.
Keller has signed a one-year deal with the Sky Blues.
