Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay has revealed key tactical adjustments have been made as the team prepares for their upcoming home match against Melbourne Victory.
After conceding too many goals in recent games, Talay is focused on tightening the squad’s defensive setup while maintaining their attacking flair.
“We’ve been trying to fix certain things tactically over the last few weeks,” Talay said. “Sometimes it’s about personnel who can do the roles we need.
“This week, a few decisions have been made, and you’ll see how we look to nullify the opportunities the opponent creates.”
The Sky Blues are determined to use their upcoming stretch of home games to climb the A-League ladder. Talay stressed the importance of balancing their attacking style with more defensive solidity.
“You can ask the question—can you have too much attacking football? Or can you be too defensive? It’s all about balance, and it depends on the opponent,” Talay said. “We believe in the style we play, but we need to tweak it and make it better in certain situations.”
Facing a Victory side still adapting under new coach Arthur Diles, Talay expects a competitive contest. “They’re still a very good side. I don’t think their setup or style of play has changed much,” Talay said. “Arthur might tweak a few things, but it’s hard to overhaul too much in two weeks.”
On the team front, striker Patryk Klimala’s availability provides a boost, though his minutes will be managed as he returns from injury. “Patryk is a little ahead of schedule, which is great. He’ll be available but will have limited minutes,” Talay confirmed.
The coach also praised Brazilian forward Douglas Costa, who is finding form after a cautious recovery from injury. “I’m happy for Douglas—he’s scored a couple of goals and assisted with a set piece,” Talay said. “We’ve been building him up slowly because he’s a very important player for us, and he’s tracking in the right direction.”
As Sydney FC looks to capitalize on their home advantage, Talay left no doubt about the importance of securing a win.
“We need to win this weekend. We’re not happy with where we are on the ladder,” he said. “The football hasn’t been bad, especially with the ball, but we’ve conceded too many goals, which makes it hard to win games. We need to play our brand of football and get results at the same time.”
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