Sky Blues skipper quashes retirement talk

Winning an Hyundai A-League championship over the next two weeks won’t have any bearing on Alex Brosque’s future, with the Sydney FC captain confirming he wants to play on next season.

The 31-year-old is contracted for next season but there have been suggestions he might call it a day if the Sky Blues go all the way to the title.

But the ex-Socceroo attacker is in a rich vein of form and declared he is not planning on retiring just yet.

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“It was the one thing I thought about…as a player you always want to end on a good note,” Brosque told reporters on Monday.

Alex Brosque celebrates scoring Sydney FC's opener at nib Stadium.

“But I’ve spoken to [coach Graham Arnold] and a few people but I’m committed to this club, I’m committed to honouring my contract and I feel this season has been a good one.

“I’ve felt, particularly the second half of the season, I’ve contributed. I’m excited for the possibility of the [AFC] Champions League next year as well. That’s something I want to be a part of.

“I’m not thinking of retiring, no.”

A big reason for Brosque’s desire to play on is the enjoyment he has had this season being a part of Sydney’s eye-catching and successful style of play under Arnold.

He is confident the week off has given them a good chance to freshen up for a serious challenge for the title.

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And he believes leading scorer Marc Janko is ready to explode after four games without finding the back of the net.

“[Adelaide] should be very worried. He’s the golden boot winner and he’s been fantastic,” Brosque said of the Austrian skipper.

Sydney FC striker Marc Janko has netted in six straight games for the Sky Blues.

“He’s a threat all over the pitch and it’s his work-rate as well which has really impressed us.

“For someone his size, generally they are players that don’t move around too much, they stay in the box and wait for service but he works hard and earns his goals.

“Adelaide will do a lot of homework on him but he’s one of those players who you can’t really stop, you just hope he doesn’t have too much of an impact. We’re confident he will.”

Asked what Sydney has to change to overturn the three losses to Adelaide this season, Brosque said: “Nothing, just the result.

“Sooner or later it will turnaround. Even though on the scoreboard they have had us in the last few games at no point did we feel we were outplayed or dominated or they were the better team.

“We’ll play exactly the same way and I’m more confident this time that we will get the result.

“We’re looking forward to playing against Adelaide. Especially after the last game against them we feel we owe them one.”

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