Charlotte McLean knows what it’s like to go into the final day with a Premiership on the line!
Three points on Sunday at Leichhardt Oval against Melbourne Victory will secure the Premiers Plate for the Sky Blues for a record fourth time, and cement their place in history as one of the greatest teams in the history of the Liberty A-League.
However, should Sydney FC lose or draw, they will have to wait until Perth Glory host Melbourne City at 6pm on Sunday. If Melbourne City fail to win then Sydney FC will be crowned Premiers, regardless of their result earlier in the day. A win for the Sky Blues against Melbourne Victory takes Melbourne City out of the equation entirely.
But Mclean is not daunted by the need to secure a win to be certain of celebrating winning the title.
She said: “We’ve won the last few Premierships on the last day so after the game [Canberra loss] we were upset but we all got around each other and was like no, this is our destiny. This is how it’s meant to be.
‘We are going to rise and hopefully we can get two good training sessions in and come into Sunday firing.
To be in the position to possibly win a fourth consecutive Premiers Plate is something that looked very unlikely for the Sky Blues not that long ago. In late December they were sitting in sixth place, nine points away from first place. Now they sit one point clear at the top.
This season they have had so many challenges along the way with Asian football, major injuries and a completely new team.
With all of these factors, should Sydney FC win on Sunday, this Premiership could be the most hard earned in McLean’s career.
“If you had told me in January where we are now I would’ve said “no way, that’s not possible”.
“I’m so happy of what we have achieved and what we’ve done and from now on, everything else is a bonus but if we do win it, it will be the sweetest or the most hard earned.
“We’ve had such a hard year. It’s been the longest season in history plus we flew to Uzbekistan in the middle of it and played three extra games,” she added.
“It’s been so difficult and it’s been a really long and tiring season and there’s definitely been moments where we have had to reflect and we have all learned and grown so much.”
With so much on the line and the race coming down to the final day, McLean knows that this is more than just the playing group and staff it is everyone who supports them.
“Sunday is going to be a great day, we have had so many amazing crowds this season at Leichhardt Oval and the fans keep getting louder and louder.
“They were part of the reason that our form changed midway through the season. We were getting these amazing crowds and we weren’t playing our best and we were like “people are coming to watch us, and properly watch us, and we need to take this opportunity and not take it for granted”,” she said.
“The fans are part of the reason that we turned this season around and they helped us so much and helped us realise this is so much bigger than us.
“There are people watching and we need to perform and be the Sydney FC that we have been.”
Get behind Charlotte and the girls this Sunday as they need your support to get them across the line against Victory.
Match Details
Sydney FC v Melbourne Victory
Liberty A-League Round 22
Sunday 31st March 2024
Leichhardt Oval, Sydney, NSW
Kick Off: 4pm AEDT
Gates Open: 3pm AEDT
Broadcast Live: Paramount+ & 10Play
Tickets: Click Here
Matchday Partner: Sydney FC Foundation
