Sydney FC duo Stuart Musialik and Mark Bridge have vowed to put the disappointment of the Olyroos’ early exit from Beijing behind them ahead of Saturday’s Hyundai A-League clash against the Central Coast Mariners.
Sydney FC duo Stuart Musialik and Mark Bridge have vowed to put the disappointment of the Olyroos’ early exit from Beijing behind them ahead of Saturday’s Hyundai A-League clash against the Central Coast Mariners.
But while keen to move on, the talented duo, who made the move from current A-League Champions the Newcastle Jets to the harbour city in the off-season, admit they are still coming to terms with their Olympic heartache.
“Obviously it was very disappointing not to go through to the next group in the Olympics after so much build up and preparation for the Games,” Musialik said on Friday.
“It wasn’t a very good feeling but now I’m looking forward to getting stuck into it with Sydney and getting the season underway.”
Bridge added: “I still think about it, think maybe if we did this or did that or we did that maybe we could have got through (to the knockout stage).”
“To see we only lost 1-0 against Argentina and to see them in the final and see them beat Brazil 3-0 we think to ourselves maybe we could have done a little bit better.”
“But I need to be a big boy about this and put it behind me and concentrate fully on Sydney.”
While Bridge managed a 30-minute cameo appearance against Melbourne Victory in round one, Musialik will make his first official appearance for Sydney FC against the Mariners after playing just one pre-season trial with his new club since making the switch.
But despite having had minimal time to gel with his new team-mates, the talented midfielder says he’s ready to resume his battle with the Mariners.
“It’s been a bit of an interrupted pre-season but training’s been very sharp this week and (with the fact that I’m playing for a) new club and especially with the game against (fierce rivals) the Central Coast I’m definitely really looking forward to it,” Musialik said.
Bridge, meanwhile, plans to get over his Olympic disappointment by inflicting more misery on his good friend and Central Coast shot-stopper Danny Vukovic.
“It doesn’t bother me what team (I’m playing for) I’ve still got Danny in the sticks,” Bridge said when asked if the rivalry with the Mariners would still feel the same in a Sydney shirt.
“Whenever he’s playing it’s always a massive rivalry, he’s already rung me saying ‘please don’t score’.”
Indeed Vukovic, who will miss the Mariners’ next five matches through suspension following Saturday’s clash, should not expect any sympathy from his close mate.
“I can’t wait to play him again and hopefully make him miserable for his five weeks off,” Bridge said with the hint of a smile.
