Leading Sydney FC players say the uncertainty surrounding the future of coach Vitezslav Lavicka has nothing to do with their current form slump and have vowed to take it upon themselves to get their stuttering season back on track.
Leading Sydney FC players say the uncertainty surrounding the future of coach Vitezslav Lavicka has nothing to do with their current form slump and have vowed to take it upon themselves to get their stuttering season back on track.
Lavicka-s future has been the focus of much conjecture in recent weeks as the Sky Blues have slipped down the table on the back of three straight defeats.
The Sydney boss is off-contract at the end of the season and the Sydney board are under pressure to make a definitive decision on the way forward for the club.
A final decision on Lavicka-s future at Sydney is expected before the end of the month.
The coaching saga has been an unwanted distraction for the Sky Blues as they look to consolidate their spot in the top six but a couple of their stars have quashed suggestions it-s affecting their performances on the field.
“The boys are all professional players, a lot of the boys have been doing it for a very long time,” Sydney FC forward Mark Bridge said.
“Whatever is in the papers, you read but as soon as you cross that line you stop thinking about it and you do your job, whoever is the coach.”
“You listen to them, the senior boys in the team and Bimbi (assistant coach Steve Corica).”
“The boys are still very confident at the moment but we need to turn (our form) around now.”
Experienced defender Pascal Bosschaart added: “Always when lose a few games always the coach gets the blame.”
“It’s not only the coach but the whole club is responsible for this, you can’t blame one person.”
“You can’t forget (Lavicka) made Sydney champions as well.”
“This is not the worst period and things can turn around.”
And things will need to change fast if the Sky Blues are to keep their spot in the top six with the club about to enter a crucial period of three matches in just eight days.
It starts with Saturday night-s tricky trip to Brisbane to tackle the Roar before a clash with Perth Glory in a rescheduled fixture at Campbelltown four days later, then their back at the SFS to face the Gold Coast on January 22.
But Bridge is looking no further than the Roar at Suncorp Stadium and believes Ange Postecoglou’s side are close to a return to their best form despite them winning just once in their last eight games.
“They are a quality team and even though they’ve had bad run of form lately, you can never say they’re going to be easy,” Bridge said.
“They have missed (Thomas) Broich a lot and lucky for us he’s back this week.”
“We just have to do what we did against them at Kogarah (2-0 win to Sydney last month), stamp out the negative things and hopefully it pays off.”
“Our game plan is not to get strung out and defend as a unit. It comes down to concentration in the end and individually everyone has to focus on it themselves.”
After starting on the bench in the loss to the Central Coast last weekend, Bridge changed the game when he came on in the second half and has won his starting spot back at the expense of Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine.
It’s just the 26-year-old’s second start in the last two months after injury and biding his time on the bench and he is desperate to make the most of the opportunity.
Bridge said he has been content with his form so far this season but admits he needs to add to his lone goal for the season if the Sky Blues are to start winning games.
“I think I’ve been doing well but the ball’s not going in and as a striker you’re judge on your goals and I need them to start going in,” the former Newcastle Jets attacker said.
“It will faze me if it means I’m out of the squad and can’t get back in.”
“At the moment I think I’m doing alright in build up play and bringing other players into the game. But as an attacker you need to score goals.”
One other change is expected to the Sydney starting side for Saturday night’s match with Scott Jamieson likely to come in at left-back in place of Sebastian Ryall.
