Sydney FC coach Vitezslav Lavicka is confident his side have learned from the ‘bitter’ lessons handed out by the rampant Central Coast last weekend as his side head into two crucial matches in four days which could determine their finals hopes.
The Sky Blues begin the two season-defining clashes against the high-flying Brisbane Roar at the SFS on Sunday followed by a tricky trip to North Queensland to take on the Fury just three days later.
Lavicka and skipper Terry McFlynn both declared on Friday the under-pressure Sydney squad were eager to make amends for their poor display in their outing last and excited about the challenge ahead this week.
But the defending champions head into the two games in far from ideal form, slumping to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat – the club’s second heaviest in their history – against the Mariners last weekend.
The manner of the defeat was a new low in what has been a difficult season for the Sky Blues but Lavicka insists his side are capable of turning things around swiftly and keeping their season alive by doing what only one side has managed this season – toppling the league-leading Roar.
“It (Mariners loss) was horrible game for us. I don’t remember when I’ve been involved in a game like this….it was very bitter lessons for us,” Lavicka said.
“But we analysed the game and we can improve immediately.”
“The players are switched on now and we are focusing on the following game this weekend against Brisbane.”
“It won’t be easy, everyone knows Brisbane is the leader of A-League ladder this season and have played the best football…it’s a great challenge for us.”
“We must improve a lot of things but we have a desire and responsibility to show the Sydney FC fans they have good team.”
With Sydney’s patchy form seeing them struggle to keep in touch with the top six, there have been calls from some sections for the club to forget about trying to make a push for the finals and start focusing on being ready for their Asian Champions League campaign in March.
But the Sydney skipper scoffed at those suggestions and said the players owe it to the club and its fans to do everything they can to try and push their way up the table.
“We haven’t given up the prospect of finals and we’ll never give that up until it’s mathematically impossible,” McFlynn said.
“As professionals we owe that to people around us and we work hard every single day to make that a reality.”
“We’ll keep focused on getting into the finals and where we go from there is in our own hands.”
“We have to start winning games, we’ve had a good week training this week and we’re really looking forward to Sunday.”
The Sky Blues are likely to get Brazilian striker Bruno Cazarine back for Sunday’s game while fellow frontman Alex Brosque (hamstring) will need to get through another light training session on Saturday to take his place in the squad.
