Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic admits he wasn’t anticipating his workforce to be dealing with Sydney FC on Friday night time, saying he was “surprised” the Sky Blues received their A-League elimination closing towards the Western Sydney Wanderers.
Sydney is the one workforce that completed exterior the highest 4 to nonetheless be alive after they beat the Wanderers 2-1 at CommBank Stadium final Saturday.
As the lowest-ranked workforce remaining within the finals, Sydney’s “reward” for beating the Wanderers is a two-legged semi-final towards premiership winners and championship favourites City.
“Leading into this final part of the season, Western Sydney Wanderers looked really good,” Vidosic mentioned,
“They were dominating teams, they were freely scoring goals, (Brandon) Borrello was like a world-class player, their signings were starting to fit into the structure, so yeah I was a bit surprised (that Sydney beat the Wanderers).
“But Sydney FC had a fantastic second half against the Wanderers and they won the right to play in the semi-final in that second half, which is hard do in an away game, but they were excellent.”
Despite an damage cloud hanging over star Sky Blues winger Joe Lolley (hamstring), Vidosic mentioned City was “preparing for the best possible Sydney FC”.
Vidosic was assured the City’s Socceroos winger Mathew Leckie would begin Friday night time match in his ongoing comeback from his personal hamstring damage.
“He has had two big weeks. We did a little bit of extra work with him. We had an intra-club (last) Friday, and everyone that participated dd really well, so at this moment … Leckie is looking good to start,” City’s coach mentioned.
Vidosic additionally backed star import Valon Berisha to play after he missed City’s final-round 3-2 win over the Wanders with a nagging hip downside.
“He’s another one who had a cracking (intra-club) game last Friday, a cracking week this week, so he is putting his hand up to start,” he mentioned.
Vidosic mentioned City would deal with Friday night time’s match as a “grand final” regardless of the groups assembly every once more in subsequent week’s second leg in Melbourne.
“Because the grand final will be in Sydney. we’ll have to do it all over again if we are in that game, and you have to win that game. There’s no game back in Melbourne a week later,” he mentioned.
“It is a dress rehearsal, and hopefully we can win this game and prepare ourselves the best we can for the grand final.”
Originally printed as Sydney FC’s win over the Wanderers caught Melbourne City coach Rado Vidosic off guard
Source: www.dailytelegraph.com.au
