Gold Coast United boss Miron Bleiberg is hoping his side’s quality prevails when they travel to the Sydney Football Stadium to take on Sydney FC on Saturday night.
United are in the middle of a heated battle with Adelaide and Central Coast for second position on the Hyundai A-League ladder but are winless over the past three games – their latest result, a frustrating scoreless stalemate with Perth Glory at Skilled Park on Monday.
But the fixture is just as crucial for the Sky Blues, who are expected to throw everything at fourth-placed Gold Coast in a last-ditch effort to sneak into sixth spot and qualify for the finals series – and with both sides on the attack, Bleiberg is counting on his men to finish victorious.
“I believe we are where we are and Sydney are where they are because our quality is better,” the Gold Coast boss said.
“They have the home advantage, but we have the advantage of quality. Hopefully quality will prevail.”
“They’ll go all out attack to win and so will we, and since I believe that quality prevails it’s good for us because if they use any other tactics it could be a leveler.”
“Every game from now until the end of the season is important and huge for us, but even moreso for Sydney.”
“If we see ourselves as fighting for a position in the finals, can you imagine how important it is for Sydney, such a big club and the champions from last year – for them it’s a game to just make the finals.”
“It’s a matter of mental preparation and desperation – the teams that will be prepared better will come and fight. It will be the survival of the fittest.”
With the Sky Blues’ backs against the wall and in dire need of a win to back up last weekend-s triumph over the Newcastle Jets, Bleiberg is counting on the reigning champions to prove easier to break down than a stubborn Glory side that soaked up everything the Gold Coast had to offer up front.
Fans at the SFS may well be treated to a goal fest if Bleiberg-s predictions are correct, and he credits the structure of the Hyundai A-League and the way it gives even the teams languishing at the bottom of the ladder something to fight for as a fascinating season draws to a close.
“I think the fact that Sydney won (last week) and still have a slim hope to make the finals works in our favour,” he said.
“They will go all-out attack – they don’t have a choice. They will not waste time and they will go for it, which suits us.”
“I think that was the idea behind having 11 teams with six spots for the finals. Every team is fighting for something in this competition. Whether it’s good or bad I don’t know but it’s exciting. It’s not good for coaches and our health but otherwise it’s good.”
