Sydney FC eager to revive ALM title charge
As they fight to win silverware in Asia, Sydney FC boss Ufuk Talay is well aware his side can ill-afford any further slip-ups in the A-League Men (ALM) as they look to break back into the top six.
Fancied as one of the favourites for the title before the season started, Sydney side are languishing in seventh, outside the finals spots by two points, with nine rounds left to play.
The Sky Blues have just one ALM win in their last six games and face Macarthur FC on Saturday in a match which could have major ramifications for both teams' seasons.
The Bulls are eighth but can overtake Sydney with victory.
Talay, whose side reached the last eight of the Asian Champions League 2 last week, said his side needed little reminder of their need to improve on the domestic front.
Douglas Costa magic 🪄🇧🇷A fitting goal to seal an epic encounter ☄️#WeAreSydney | #ACLTwo pic.twitter.com/F8gAqM4scX
— Sydney FC (@SydneyFC) February 20, 2025
"The boys know where we're sitting and where we want to get to, and I think they understand the importance of this game," Talay said.
"There's always going to be games we look back at where we could have got better results than we did.
"I think the boys have worked tirelessly. There's not a game where I can turn around and fault their attitude and mentality.
"Yes, it's a results driven business, but I think we've got the quality too to get us we want to get to."
In welcome news on Thursday, Sydney learned that their ACL2 quarter-final first leg - away to South Korean side Jeonbuk Motors - had been relocated due to a poor playing surface.
Sydney will now play in Yongin, much closer to the capital of Seoul, in a move which will massively reduce the travel load on Talay's men.
"We'll look at Jeonbuk once we get through the game on Saturday against Macarthur," Talay said.
"We travel on Sunday, so we will get over nice and early and give us an opportunity to get our feet on the ground straight away."
Talay said the only player under an injury cloud was defender Alex Popovic, while the Sydney boss confirmed that Tiago Quintal would link up with the Sky Blues in South Korea after completing national team duties with the Young Socceroos.
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