Sydney FC Head Coach Ufuk Talay says his side is energised and excited ahead of another blockbuster Sydney Derby, confident in the momentum they’ve built — but fully aware of the challenge Western Sydney will pose on their home turf.
With the Sky Blues chasing a fifth consecutive win, Talay says the dressing room is positive, focused and hungry heading into one of the league’s biggest fixtures.
“Yeah, excited — the derby always brings a great atmosphere,” Talay said.
“It’s a great spectacle, and hopefully we perform well and pick up all three points.”
Riding in With Momentum
Sydney enter the derby in strong form, and Talay says the feeling inside the squad reflects it.
“The group’s in a good place at the moment, mentally and physically,” he said.
“We’ve come off some really positive results leading into this game.”
The Wanderers also enter the match after a win, and Talay says that only reinforces the need for focus.
“There’s no easy game in this competition. Wanderers had a good result against Central Coast. But where we’re at right now, the group is in a good place — and hopefully we can bring that into the weekend as well.”
Assessing the Wanderers
Talay says Western Sydney’s results have fluctuated, but their quality — especially at home — is undeniable.
“They’ve been a little bit up and down,” he explained.
“In the Adelaide game, when it was 0–0, they had big opportunities to go ahead but didn’t capitalise and ended up losing.
“But at home, they’re always going to be a tough opponent.”
Do Not Think Too Far Ahead
With the chance to claim five wins on the bounce for the first time in years, Talay says the squad isn’t getting caught up in the statistics.
“We don’t think too far ahead about that stuff,” he said.
“People enjoy the stats, and it’s nice to look at those numbers — but for me, we’re five games into the season.”
“We want to keep winning and keep playing dominant football. The derby is another opportunity to do that.”
Avoiding Complacency in a Chaotic Derby
Asked about complacency, Talay was clear: there is none.
“The derby, the first 10–15 minutes is always a bit chaotic,” he said.
“But once the game settles, it’s important we play our game — with and without the ball.
“There’s never been complacency with this group. They know the task ahead.”
Talay says the team who stays calm and disciplined will have the advantage.
“The team that doesn’t play the occasion, and sticks to the game plan, will have the best opportunity.”
Returning Socceroos Handling the Load
Talay also provided an update on the players who recently returned from international duty.
“Those boys had extra recovery protocols at the start of the week,” he said.
“Al [Hassan Toure] probably struggled the most out of the three, but we pushed him through 60 minutes. Piero [Quispe] was fine, Paulie [Okon Jnr] got through the game as well.”
“They’ve recovered well and they’re good to go.”
Al Hassan Toure Embracing the Spotlight
With Al Hassan Toure hitting headlines after his standout performances, Talay praised his response and professionalism.
“Al’s been great,” he said.
“I’m very proud of Paulie and Al for getting their caps with the national team.
“Football changes rapidly. The more they perform at club level, the more opportunities they’ll get internationally.”
Explaining the Derby to First-Timers
With several new faces in both squads, Talay was asked how he prepares players who haven’t experienced a Sydney Derby before.
“It’s a hard one to explain,” he admitted.
“You’ve got to experience it yourself. You’ve got to be in the moment.
“I think those boys will have a better understanding on game day.”
Match Details
Western Sydney Wanderers v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League 2025/26 Round 6
Saturday 29th November 2025
CommBank Stadium, Parramatta, NSW
Kick Off: 7:35pm AEDT
Gates Open: 6:00pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: 10Drama & Paramount+
Tickets: Click Here
