Polish star looking for further improvement
HE was at the heart of Sydney FC’s demolition of the Wanderers, but Adrian Mierzejewski says he still needs to do more to prove he deserves his place in the team.
A rampant Sky Blues turned Western Sydney into bystanders as they beat their rivals 5-0 at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night, with Mierzejewski scoring a superb brace in the first half.
It was a near flawless performance that had been coming, from both Sydney and Mierzejewski, but the Polish star says with his fitness levels not quite where they should be yet, he can still improve.
“I’m waiting for more goals, more assists, more wins,” Mierzejewski said.
“I just need more training and more games. I’m still a new player and for four or five weeks I couldn’t train with the team (due to injury), so I need more time to improve myself and to prove to everyone that I deserve to be here.
“Of course I can play much better. But I’m happy that I scored two goals and I helped my teammates to get the three points.”
Mierzejewski’s second goal, a curling free-kick into the top corner, wasn’t a surprise to coach Graham Arnold who has watched the 31-year-old spend hours practising them at training.
And Mierzejewski says he hopes many more similar opportunities fall to him.
“I think it’s my good side,” he said. “Training with Jordy Buijs, every free kick was a goal – it was like penalties for us. I know in the last game against the Wanderers Brandon (O’Neill) scored an amazing goal, but I know it’s my place on the pitch to take them and that’s why I’m working hard at training to be ready for this. I’m waiting for more free kicks and more chances.”
Despite the thumping result, Mierzejewski said it wasn’t all smooth sailing. He thought Wanderers goalkeeper Vedran Janjetovic had a decent game, but his team was on top.
“I think the game was tough and I think the Wanderers could have also scored a few goals, but it was our day,” he said. “We could play for 90 more minutes and they would not score. I think they should be happy their keeper had a good day, because even though they conceded five goals he could still be man of the match.”