Sydney FC Head Coach Ufuk Talay says his side is full of confidence and ready to build on last week’s win as they prepare to face Newcastle Jets this weekend.
Building on a Positive Result
After securing their first three points of the season with a strong performance against Central Coast, Talay said the mood in camp has been upbeat throughout the week.
“The spirits have been good after a positive result against Central Coast,” he said.
“The preparation has been very good, and we’re looking forward to playing against a good opposition who also had a great result on the weekend.”
Returning Young Talent
Several players have returned from international duty with the Young Socceroos, and Talay was pleased with how they’ve reintegrated into the group.
“The boys who’ve come back from overseas performed well and played well,” he said.
“Newcastle have a few who’ve returned as well, and it’s great to see these young players getting opportunities and game time.”
Maintaining Standards
The Head Coach emphasised the importance of consistency and building on the defensive and attacking improvements shown last round.
“We need to continue to do what we did and improve the things we can, especially defensively,” Talay explained.
“We created good moments against Central Coast — we’ve got an experienced backline, energy in our midfield and some very talented players in our front line. We just need to keep doing that.”
Familiar Faces at Newcastle
Talay will come up against a familiar name this weekend, in Max Burgess and Ufuk Talay revealed that the club attempted to poach Alex Badolato from Western Sydney Wanderers.
“Max is a great player — he’s always been a good player,” Talay said.
“He’s doing well at Newcastle and we understand his threats, but our focus will be on us.”
“We tried to bring Alex [Badolato] here, but Wanderers wouldn’t release him to us at the time,” Talay said.
“We identified him as a talented player we really wanted. He’s continued his great form from the Under-20 World Cup and is definitely someone we need to be aware of.”
Assessing the Opposition
Talay praised the work of new Newcastle coachMark Milligan, who has quickly instilled an attacking style in a youthful squad.
“They’ve adapted to the players they have,” he noted.
“They don’t play with traditional wingers — they bring them inside to create overloads with Maxi and Badolato dropping in alongside Grozos or Bayliss. They want to play through the lines and they’ve got a very energetic young side, so it’s going to be a tough game.”
The Game Plan
Despite acknowledging the Jets’ confidence, Talay made it clear that Sydney FC’s focus remains on their own approach.
“We need to play our game, get in behind them and create opportunities,” he said.
“If we can pin them back and play the game in their half, we can kill some of that energy they have at home.”
Campuzano Finding Confidence
New striker Víctor Campuzano opened his Sydney FC account with a clever backheel goal last week, and Talay believes it could spark a run of form.
“It’s important for strikers to score goals and build confidence,” Talay said.
“He’s got his first one now, and hopefully that opens the door for many more. He’s been a great professional since joining the group, and we’re looking forward to getting even more out of him.”
Match Details
Newcastle Jets v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 3
Saturday 1st November 2025
McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, NSW
Kick Off: 5:00pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: 10Drama & Paramount+
