Sydney FC star Luke Brattan has leapt to the defence of embattled Sky Blues coach Steve Corica, who’s striving to save lots of his job forward of Thursday evening’s “Big Blue” at AAMI Park.
A loss to cellar dwellers Melbourne Victory may show disastrous for Corica, along with his former Sydney teammate Dwight Yorke ready within the wings following his weekend departure from Macarthur FC.
Under Corica, the Sky Blues didn’t play finals soccer final season.
Things haven’t improved this marketing campaign, with the Sydneysiders languishing in tenth spot on the ladder, having misplaced seven of their 13 matches.
However, Brattan is adamant Corica, who led Sydney to A-League titles in 2019 and 2020, stays the proper man for the job, and that it’s the “responsibility” of the gamers to rescue the Sky Blues’ season.
“I’ve been with ‘Bimbi’ (Corica) for four years now; he’s a great coach, and a great guy,” Brattan says.
“He’s brought so much success to this club … and I’m sure he’ll have plenty of success in the future.
“He cops the brunt of it, which is unfortunate for him, but it solely comes down to performing. We’re the ones who go out on the pitch and do the job.
“As players, we have to take full responsibility. We’re creating a lot of chances. He can’t score them for us.
“It’s on us as players to finish chances, and stop goals as well.”
The Victory can be in a rut, with the Tony Popovic-coached facet three factors adrift of Sydney on the backside of the ladder.
“They’re in a tough position as well,” Brattan stated.
“The points that are up for grabs are huge for both teams, so it’s going to be a great game.
“We’ll concentrate on ourselves and if we play the way we can, and finish our chances, and defend like we should, we’ll get the three points.”
The lively supporter group areas will once more be shut at AAMI Park as a part of the restrictions positioned on the Victory after the pitch invasion pressured final month’s Melbourne derby to be deserted.
However, members of the Victory’s lively supporter group, Original Style Melbourne, intend to purchase tickets and watch the sport collectively from a distinct space of the bottom.
“Every game at AAMI Park against Victory is a great atmosphere,” Brattan stated.
Meanwhile, Brattan admitted he was “not a huge fan” of taking part in a match on Australia Day, as calls develop for sport in Australia to not be performed on the January 26 public vacation out of respect for First Nations individuals.
“I think a few of the boys think the same way (as me), but … we don’t make up the rules, we get told what to do,” he stated.
“It’s not ideal, but we’re got to get on with it, I guess.”
