A return to action for your City boys!
We’re disappointed that we won’t be able to see you in the stands on Sunday, but we’re sure excited to have the City boys back in action after the Victorian lockdown saw our previous home fixture against Newcastle postponed.
Building towards Sunday 💪#CmonCity | #MelbDerby pic.twitter.com/M99AjWSBHk
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) June 2, 2021
With City not having played a game since our away loss to Brisbane Roar on the 25th of May, this Sunday’s Derby will provide an important opportunity for the boys to get back into competitive action as we edge closer to the Finals series.
Who will step up?
A significant challenge facing the squad heading into the Derby will be how the absences of Jamie Maclaren, Curtis Good and Connor Metcalfe are covered as the trio are away on national team duties.
A few familiar faces have joined the @Socceroos in Kuwait! 👀#CmonCity pic.twitter.com/v3uf6ke1B5
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) June 2, 2021
Missing such key components of a system is certainly of detriment to any side faced with such a dilemma, but Patrick Kisnorbo and the coaching team will undoubtedly view this as an opportunity to challenge players who would hope to compete for those vacant positions.
With strong depth across the park and some aspiring young players hungry for first-team opportunities, we’re sure that the vacancies will be filled with conviction.
Getting back to winning ways before Finals
Though the Premiers Plate had already been secured beforehand, the team will be severely disappointed with the 3-0 loss against Brisbane Roar that undermined the high standards set throughout the season.
With A-League Finals just around the corner, there is no more important time of the season for a team to be hitting its straps so that it can storm into the knockout competition with wind in its sails.
For City, having our final two games of the regular season against the 11th and 12th-placed teams serves as the perfect opportunity to achieve that momentum, but we the boys are certainly not getting ahead of themselves, and know that we’ll have to be extremely wary of a Victory side who are fresh off a dominant 6-1 win over Western United.
Familiar surroundings at AAMI Park
Whilst the only other game we’ve played at Marvel Stadium this season went down pretty well for us on the night, the playing group will have no objections to playing the game at AAMI Park after the fixture was relocated on Tuesday afternoon.
City’s record at its home venue has been remarkable this season, playing 13 games for 10 wins, in addition to one draw and two losses, including the disappointing result from our ‘away’ clash against Western United.
Facing Victory on the familiar dimensions and surroundings of the AAMI Park pitch will likely serve as an advantage for our City boys, so here’s hoping it can help them towards another great Derby result.
A potential 2020/21 Derby clean sweep
Perhaps leaving the best until last, Sunday’s Derby serves as an opportunity to complete what would go down as an extraordinary season sweep over Melbourne Victory if we can secure another three points on the day.
That initial 6-0 win at Marvel Stadium was already an incredible feat in itself, so the follow-up 7-0 at AAMI Park only served to compound our disbelief.
And you thought 6-0 was good 😏#CmonCity | #MelbDerby | #ALeague pic.twitter.com/sC3a5pEKJa
— Melbourne City FC (@MelbourneCity) April 17, 2021
It may be a little much to hope for eight this time around given a handful of missing key players and an improved Victory side, we’ll just be happy with the three points any way we can get them come Sunday evening.
