Sydney FC Head Coach Ufuk Talay is looking forward to a return to competitive action this weekend as the Sky Blues take on Melbourne City, following an enforced break after last week’s postponed fixture.
Talay admitted he would have preferred to keep momentum going, but believes the week has ultimately been beneficial for the squad as they prepare for another major challenge.
“We didn’t want to have the week off, to be honest,” Talay said.
“Unfortunately we weren’t able to play, but now we’re looking forward to playing City. It will be a challenging game.”
Managing the break
With no match last weekend, Sydney FC were forced to adjust their preparation and training load ahead of the City clash.
“We had to adapt the schedule,” Talay explained.
“It was a good time to offload some players who had done an immense amount of work in the early rounds of the season.”
The break also allowed players to spend time with family over the Christmas period before the squad turned full attention back to football.
“Now we’re looking forward to getting back into things.”
Injury update
Talay confirmed a positive update regarding Paul Okon Jnr, who is back in full training and available for selection this weekend.
“Paulie was meant to be available earlier, last week but we gave him an extra week with the postponement,” Talay said.
“He’s tracking very well and will be available for selection.”
There was less positive news regarding Joe Lolley, with the winger continuing his recovery.
“Joe is hopefully back by the end of January,” Talay said.
“We’re aiming to have him ready for the derby against Western Sydney.”
Aside from Lolley, Talay confirmed the rest of the squad is fit and ready to go.
Respect for City’s Asian campaign
Talay praised Melbourne City’s recent performances in Asian competition, highlighting the importance of Australian clubs performing well on the continental stage.
“They’ve done very well in Asia,” he said.
“It’s important for Australian clubs to pick up points in those competitions – it creates opportunities for more teams in the future.”
However, Talay acknowledged the challenges that Asian campaigns place on A-League squads.
“The travel and midweek games really test the depth of your squad,” he said.
“It’s challenging to balance that with league football.”
Analysing City
City enter the match following a loss to Perth Glory, a performance Talay believes didn’t fully reflect their quality.
“It was one of those games,” he said.
“Perth defended well and created moments in transition. City were better in the second half, but going in 2–0 down made it very difficult.”
“They’re still a very good side with very capable players.”
Building momentum
Reflecting on the season to date, Talay believes Sydney FC are building steadily despite a recent setback.
“Our club always strives to win and compete for trophies,” he said.
“Other than the loss to Newcastle, the boys have been working very hard and we’re in a good place.”
Talay highlighted the impact of new signings and the balance within the squad.
“Marcel has brought a lot of stability alongside Alex Grant,” he said.
“Victor [Campuzano] and Piero [Quispe] have adapted well to what we want. Their work off the ball allows others to get into goal-scoring positions.”
Youth pathway continues
Talay also reflected on the debut of Akol Akon, who became Sydney FC’s youngest ever A-League player last week.
“It’s a proud moment,” Talay said.
“I sat where they sat once. Our academy continues to produce hungry players and our job is to provide opportunities for them to take that next step.”
Sydney FC face Melbourne City this weekend as they look to restart their campaign and push forward in the A-League Men season.
Match Details
Melbourne City v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 11
Saturday 3rd January 2026
AAMI Park, Melbourne, VIC
Kick Off: 7:35pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Drama
