Sydney FC defender Pascal Bosschaart has urged his team-mates to forget about trying to entertain the fans and just worry about picking up the points required to get themselves into the finals over the final month of the season.
Sydney FC defender Pascal Bosschaart has urged his teammates to forget about trying to entertain the fans and just worry about picking up the points required to get themselves into the finals over the final month of the season.
With just four games left the Sky Blues are one point outside the top six and walking the finals tightrope and can ill-afford any more slip-ups on the run home.
It starts with a trip up the F3 to take on league leaders Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Saturday night.
Bosschaart believes his side hasn’t got what their performances have deserved on a few occasions this season and insists it’s time to forget about performance and worry only about points in the last four matches.
“It doesn’t matter how we play…the only thing that matters is the competition points because we need the points if we are going to make the finals,” Bosschaart, who turned 32 this week, said on Thursday.
“At the end of the season everyone looks at the competition points and the competition table. They don’t remember which games we played well and which games we played bad.”
“Sure we need to entertain our fans but the time has arrived for us to worry about points, especially away from home.”
“We must do whatever it takes to get the three points against the Mariners.”
“Last week we played good and we would like to do that again but at this stage I’d rather us play bad and win.”
Sydney chances have been boosted with experienced midfielder Karol Kisel to return from a groin injury, while Seb Ryall (hamstring) and Dimitri Petratos (Australian under-23 duty) are also available.
Brett Emerton and Nick Carle will also play after coming through the Socceroos’ win over Saudi Arabia on Wednesday night unscathed, while teen sensation Terry Antonis may win a starting berth after impressing in his comeback game last weekend.
“We do have many options, which is good,” Sydney coach Vitezslav Lavicka said.
“We have everyone except Mark Bridge available.
“It is a good situation for me because this is a huge game for us.
