Sydney FC Head Coach Ante Juric believes tomorrow’s clash with Melbourne Victory can kick start the Sky Blues season, labelling it as a pivotal moment for the team to bounce back.
Speaking ahead of the highly anticipated Allianz Stadium match, Juric reflected on the historic rivalry between the clubs and his team’s current challenges.
“It’s obviously a big game,” Juric said. “We’ve had a rivalry from day one with Victory in both the men’s and women’s programs.
“In the women’s, we’ve lost a couple of Grand Finals but also beaten them in a few semis, so there’s a bit of a grudge match in a lot of ways. It’s one of those games that the fans love, and obviously, the players look forward to.”
Juric acknowledged that the season has not met his expectations so far, placing the responsibility on his own shoulders rather than the players.
“I’m not happy with where we are,” he admitted. “As a coach, I’ve got to look into how to change things around.
“I thought we’d be in a better position right now, but it’s a challenge for me. It’s on my shoulders because the girls are working hard and doing the right things.”
Despite the setbacks, Juric expressed belief in his players and the club’s culture.
“My belief is extremely high that we’ll get out of this tough challenge because of the players we’ve got and the strength in our culture and the club.”
Reflecting on recent performances, Juric highlighted the team’s need to convert opportunities and cut out avoidable mistakes.
“The last five games, I believe we should have won all five. That’s because we’ve missed chances and given away simple goals,” he said.
“We need to finish when we have to finish and stop conceding silly goals. But when I reflect, I still have huge belief because we’ve been quite decent.
“I’m reflecting on how I, as a coach, can get the best out of our girls where we don’t make those mistakes.
“But this is the kind of game that can kickstart your season,” he continued. “It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be intense, but it’s something we’ll definitely be lifted for.”
“We just need to do the right thing on the day, and I’m sure we’ll get some points and a good performance.”
Sydney FC fans will be hoping Juric’s confidence and belief translate into a strong display against their fierce rivals, as the team looks to rise to the challenge and get off the bottom of the ladder.
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