Sky Blues defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins is relishing his return to the starting side, attributing his recent form to high expectations and faith from the team’s new coach, Patrick Kisnorbo.
The 23-year-old arrived at Sydney FC at the commencement of the Isuzu-UTE A-League 2023/24 season and missed only one A-League game across his first two years at the club.
Following a vexing start to the season, Courtney-Perkins started his first match of the campaign in Kisnorbo’s first game in charge and has praised his arrival, finding that he’s brought him a ‘new lease of life’.
“On a personal level, it’s been a pretty frustrating year,” he said.
“Coming off the back of two pretty good years before this season, and then to not really get the opportunity…was pretty frustrating.
“Some days were harder than others to get up for it.
“But I’m never going to be the kind of person that sits back and complains about the situation that they’re in. I always want to prove people wrong.
“It’s been great since PK [Patrick Kisnorbo] has come in, he’s really tried to implement his style of play, and I think all the boys have really bought into it.
“It helps you feel comfortable out there when you haven’t been out there for a while, if everyone’s on the same page and everyone’s working hard for each other.”
Since returning to the side, the defender has helped them record their first back-to-back clean sheets in over a month.
Courtney-Perkins now looks to improve his game under a coach who understands his position from experience.
“He was a centre-back when he played, so it’s nice to have a coach there who can really tell me from experience and help me out.
“He was known as a bit of a hard man back in the day, so he’s very much on me and ‘Popa’ [Alexandar Popovic] about winning our duels and winning things in the air.
“We’re told not to waste a moment, not to waste a pass, and the boys have really bought into what he’s brought.
“It’s just about improving every week and every day as a team.”
Courtney-Perkins, who joined Sydney FC following stints with Polish sides Raków and Warta Poznań, as well as Brisbane Roar, wants to push himself and the side even further under Kisnorbo to make the most of their push for a top two finish.
“I think it’s definitely full steam ahead. I don’t think there’s any time now to take our foot off the pedal,” he said.
“There won’t be any resting, there won’t be any time off, and we’re really going to knuckle down and go as far as we can.
“[The goal] now is to finish as high as we can with a home final, and then go on and hopefully win the whole thing.”
Courtney-Perkins will be looking for a third clean sheet in a row when he faces Perth Glory at Allianz Stadium this Saturday night – 7.45pm.
