Talented midfielder Anthony Caceres feels so entrenched at Sydney FC that he can usually “forget” that he was beforehand a Melbourne City participant.
However, what’s straightforward for Caceres to recollect about City is the Melbourne membership’s latest A-League dominance, together with three successive premierships and the 2020-21 championship.
“You get the buzz playing them because they’re the top team at the moment, and you rise to the occasion to play against the top teams,” Caceres stated forward of Sydney’s semi-final first-leg conflict in opposition to City at Allianz Stadium on Friday evening
Caceres is certainly one of 5 Sydney gamers, the others being skipper Alex Wilkinson, fellow midfielders Luke Brattan and Paulo Retre and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, to have performed for both City in its present existence or when it was generally known as Melbourne Heart.
“Personally, I feel like I’m so strongly associated with Sydney FC now that I forget that I played for City,” stated Caceres, whose most up-to-date look for the Melbourne membership got here 5 years in the past.
“At the time we had some fantastic players and some fantastic teams, but for some reason we couldn’t click.
“I don’t know if it was a question of culture, but they seem to have nailed that now and they’re reaping the rewards from it.
“They play a very threatening style of football and if you give them space, they will punish you.”
But sufficient is sufficient for Caceres and his teammates. who intend on reminding City that Sydney – 2-1 winners over the Wanderers in final weekend’s elimination last – is a powerhouse that has received probably the most championships of any A-League membership with 5.
“A club like Sydney has ambitions to win silverware more than anything, so our focus will be to go as far as possible,” Caceres stated.
“We’ve been in grand finals before, so we know what it’s about.
“We have a team that is experienced in these sort of games. We know what it takes to win silverware, and it’s up to us now to continue the momentum we have had in recent weeks.
“It’s not hard to be upbeat and motivated. We’re on a high after beating the Wanderers, and we’re full of energy.”
Despite having fun with time at City, 30-year-od Caceres stated he had “found himself” at Sydney.
“I feel as fit as ever to contribute to wherever the coach (Steve Corica) puts me,” he stated.
“I’m at my peak and I have more to give. My best years are ahead of me.”
Source: www.news.com.au
