Sydney homing in on Cup advantage
GRAHAM Arnold believes Sydney FC have a clear advantage ahead of tomorrow night’s FFA Cup final and he’s confident his team will make the most of it.
While their opponents Adelaide United have had to travel up and back down the coast after beating the Central Coast Mariners, the Sky Blues have enjoyed a week-long preparation at home.
Sydney beat the Newcastle Jets at Allianz Stadium on Saturday night and, with the short turnaround in mind, Arnold has made sure his squad is as fresh as possible for tomorrow’s final at the same venue.
“(Luke) Wilkshire I rested, obviously Matty Simon I rested. Then Ninko (Milos Ninkovic) played 60 minutes so he’s fine and (Alex) Brosque 60 minutes, so he’s fine,” Arnold said.
“At the end of the day, we’ve probably got six or seven fresh players. Josh (Brillante) and Brandon (O’Neill) are running machines – they could probably play another game tomorrow if they had to.
“So it’s been fantastic – we don’t have to travel. Adelaide have had to travel twice, to the Central Coast and back to Adelaide, then back (here) on Monday.
“We’ve been here, we had a good week and with the boys there’s no concerns at all. They’re fit and ready to go and firing on all cylinders.”
Sydney are also likely to be boosted by the return of Adrian Mierzejewski.
The Polish winger came off the bench against the Jets and Arnold says he’s a good chance of starting tomorrow.
“It’s not easy to come back in with 20 minutes to go, pelting down with rain, a heavy pitch and the game is end to end,” Arnold said. “He’s 100 per cent fine for Tuesday – he’ll be in the squad.”
The Sky Blues currently hold the Premiership and Championship trophies, but Arnold says they are desperate to complete the treble by claiming the FFA Cup. And he believes, come tomorrow night, they will have it.
“It’s a trophy this club has never won – I know it’s only been around for a couple of years,” he said.
“We, as a club, have taken the FFA Cup very seriously compared to other clubs.
“The reason we took it so seriously is because we want the treble – we want the third trophy and we will get it.”
Both Sydney and Adelaide go into the final with important wins behind them; Adelaide with a last-gasp victory against the Mariners and Sydney bouncing back from last week’s shock loss against the Mariners by beating the Jets.
But Arnold says Sydney still have to be more clinical in front of goal.
WE’VE BEEN HERE, WE HAD A GOOD WEEK AND WITH THE BOYS THERE’S NO CONCERNS AT ALL. THEY’RE FIT AND READY TO GO AND FIRING ON ALL CYLINDERS GRAHAM ARNOLD