City Head Coach Warren Joyce is relishing the opportunity to take on Champions Sydney FC on Friday night, saying that the match will show how far his side have come since its FFA Cup Final exit in mid-September.
The loss at Leichhardt Oval struck a chord with the Englishman, who’s results – even in pre-season – began to improve after the result and with his side’s prefect start to the season in the forefront of everyone’s mind, the Head Coach is keen to test his side against the league’s best.
“Regardless of whatever has gone on in the league, you want to put up a better show than we did in the FFA Cup,” Joyce said.
“We know they’re a good side and that everyone has labelled them favourites for the league. They have good players, a good manager and they do what they need to do with and without the ball.
“We all felt [our pride was hit] after that game. You look at pride as a big thing that you want the club to display and everyone connected to it. It gives you a chance to show that, and you can only do that with your actions. In football, you get a chance when you are a player to show it on the pitch so that’s what we are looking to do tomorrow night.”
The improvement in results has been the noticeable change for those on the outside but Joyce is confident the way his side present themselves has changed since that match as well, saying they are a more organised unit who believe in themselves.
“I think we’ve improved in certain aspects,” he said.
“There are certain curve balls just before that game that threw us a little bit from the things we were doing pre-season. Tomorrow night will tell if we’ve improved or learned or got better. [Doing it] out on the pitch is the only way we can improve that anyway.
“I don’t think we could be that bad again [from the FFA Cup clash]. I don’t think Sydney had to play great that night. Tomorrow is a new game that you want us to be the best we can be.
City and Joyce take on Sydney on Friday in a top of the table clash at AAMI Park, kick-off 7.50pm. Head to the ground early as our women’s side take on the Melbourne Derby, kick-off 5.20pm. Click here to get your tickets.
