Ufuk Talay has said that when Sydney FC are executing their press to perfection, other teams fear them, and that is what the Sky Blues will need to do to progress to the Isuzu UTE A-League Grand Final.
Sydney FC will play their first-leg semi-final match against the Central Coast Mariners on Friday night at Allianz Stadium.
Talay explained that he feels the team is focused going into this clash, but he is bidding for perfect football.
“[Teams fear us] at times, and when we’re on definitely.
“When teams analyse us, they see the spaces that we give up without the ball, but what they can’t feel is the intensity of the press that’s actually happening on the pitch.
“What we believe in as a club [is our brand of football], and the boys have bought into it, and hopefully, it pays off in these next two games.
“The approach may be a little bit different, but the mindset needs to be the same,” he said.
The coach also revealed that he will not consider history when playing the Mariners, as the Sky Blues have been the only team to beat the Mariners since November.
He instead stressed the importance of grit in this contest, as he believes his side can earn Championship glory.
“One thing we just need to be mindful of is that [we’ve beaten them] twice in the league, but that was league. [Finals] are different as far as football.
“There’s definitely no room for error in these games. Players definitely need to be up for the games at home and away.
“As long as we are focused, we set in our minds that we’re ready to go. We’ll have a good shot of going all the way.
Talay further weighed in on the Mariners, who claimed the Premiers Plate and won the AFC Cup earlier this week.
The coach praised Central Coast’s continental success, explaining how the Mariners are a quality side, which the coaching team has been analysing to prepare for the first leg.
“They’re a hard-working team. For me, they’re very grounded. They work very hard in all these moments for the front load all the way to the back line.
“They score some very nice goals. They play through the lines at times or can be direct, so now they’ve got to start a distinct style of play that they want to play, and they’ve done it well.”
Match Details: Sydney FC v Central Coast Mariners Isuzu UTE A-League Semi-Final Leg One Friday 10th May, 2024 Allianz Stadium, Sydney, NSW
Kick Off: 7:45PM Gates Open: 6:45PM Broadcast Live: Paramount+ and 10PLAY Tickets: Click Here
