Fierce rivalry sure to create special atmosphere in Sydney derby

WESTERN Sydney sitting on four points from the first two games is really positive.

We can always be better and build on each game during the season, and there’s no better way to take that next step than in the Sydney derby tomorrow.

Looking in from China last year and having been around the Hyundai A-League before, I think all the other teams in the league are jealous of the rivalry.

It’s almost like a European game where fans from both sides are just going at each other – there’s just so much emotion.

The only thing I can compare it to is the derbies I’ve been a part of in Bucharest and Krakow, where the cities were so split you couldn’t even go into certain parts in the leadup to the game.

The players feed off that energy and it creates a really special atmosphere.

The east versus west rivalry will only get bigger.

I think it’s great for the league.

Sydney showed last year if you want to win the league you need to win these types of big games – it’s simple.

It will be a real high-pressure environment so I guess whichever team can handle that pressure, both with the emotion and on the pitch, will come out on top. With a full stadium, both teams will be trying to press each other so it’s going to be very interesting.

From what we’ve been doing in pre-season and what we’ve been working on in our first two games, I’m sure we can get a result.