Newly appointed Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold has his sights set on reaping rewards with the Sky Blues, with domestic success and Asian Champions League qualification at the fore of the A-League Championship winner’s mind.
Newly appointed Sydney FC Head Coach Graham Arnold has his sights set on reaping rewards with the Sky Blues, with domestic success and Asian Champions League qualification at the fore of the A-League Championship winner-s mind.
“It-s a goal of mine, and it will be made clear to the players, that I haven-t come here to be happy with mediocrity,” Arnold said.
“I-ve come here to achieve success and I want to see the Sky Blues in the ACL. They deserve to be on the biggest stage and the supporters deserve that.
“The identity has to be we are the biggest football club in this country,”
Arnold said he-s particularly keen to get underway and is already anticipating the derby matches his new position with Sydney FC will produce.
“I can-t wait [for the rivalries],” he continued
“The derby on the coast was a great experience but no disrespect it was about 50% of the experience you achieve and receive when you play the Wanderers and Melbourne Victory.
“I haven-t had the privilege to be a part of one of those derbies yet but I know exactly what it means to our wonderful supporters.”
In labelling the Sky Blues as the biggest club in the country, Arnold revealed it was the facilities and future plans the Sky Blues had to offer that ultimately swayed him into joining the two time Hyundai A-League Champions.
“Those type of things really get you excited,” Arnold said.
“We have probably one of the best training facilities in this country, and we-re looking at building a centre of excellence that I want to be involved with. It was quite an easy decision.”
With an average crowd of 18,682 last season, Arnold said he was excited by the prospect of coaching in front of bumper crowds at Allianz Stadium as the former Socceroo-s Head Coach rated the Sky Blues faithful as the benchmark for the league.
“We have to try and get as many people as we can into the stadium,” Arnold said.
“I think if we can make Allianz Stadium a place where the opposition come where they feel uncomfortable, that can come from the supporters being our 12th man.”
Arnold also revealed he is delighted with the variety of support the club attracts.
“You-ve got the Cove, who for me set the standards from day one in the A-League and everyone has gone with it, to the family based supporters where the club gives out 8,000 Junior Blues Memberships for under 11 years olds.
“If we can have a good home form then we-re halfway there.”
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