Alex Grant isn’t easing into life at Sydney FC, diving straight into the action by playing a full 120 minutes on debut in Sydney FC’s hard-fought extra-time win over Bangkok United in the AFC Champions League 2 on Wednesday night.
It was his first competitive action in several months after arriving from China, but he relished every moment.
“I’m a bit sore and a little tired, but I loved every minute of it,” said the newly-signed defender.
“When you’ve been out for a while, you really appreciate being back on the pitch. At this stage of my career, I just want to enjoy every moment and help the team however I can.”
With little time to recover, Grant and his new team-mates now turn their attention to a crucial A-League Men’s clash against Perth Glory on Saturday night.
“Saturday is a massive game for us, we need to win to keep setting ourselves up well,” he said.
“Coming off the back of 120 minutes, it’ll be a challenge, but the confidence from Wednesday’s result has to push us on.”
For Grant, the Perth fixture holds added significance returning to face his former club and playing in front of friends and family.
“I can’t wait! Playing at home is always special, and it’ll be great to see familiar faces in the crowd,” he added.
While domestic matters are front of mind, Sydney FC’s continental journey isn’t far from Grant’s thoughts, with a potential AFC Champions League 2 quarter-final showdown against Korean heavyweights Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on the horizon.
Having faced Jeonbuk during his time in Korea at Pohang Steelers, Grant knows the challenge ahead.
“I’ve played against Jeonbuk a few times and have good memories at their stadium. They’ll be well-organized, but I always say, you’re not playing Real Madrid.
“They’re beatable, and we’ve got the players to get a result both home and away.”
Balancing the demands of domestic and continental football, Grant’s message is clear.
“We’ve got to take it one game at a time and focus on Perth first, get the win, and then we can look ahead to the next challenge.”
Tickets for the general public go on sale for Sydney FC’s home clash with Jeonbuk next Friday following the Member’s pre-sale.
