Like a Grand Final, says Rudan

Sydney FC Captain Mark Rudan today stated his side was treating Sunday’s clash with Perth Glory at Aussie Stadium “like a Grand Final” and the defending Champions were keen to make amends for consecutive Hyundai A-League losses.

Rudan spoke today after a tough week for the A-League champions following losses to the Central Coast Mariners and Melbourne Victory but stressed the players were keen to take the side back to the top of the competition ladder.

“We’re hurting,” Rudan said. “We are disappointed that we are in 4th position, there’s no hiding that but we are treating the game against Perth like a Grand Final and we know we have to get the job done on the pitch on Sunday.

“We are a very tight group of players and this has only brought us closer together. There has been a lot of talk but as far as we are concerned what happens off the pitch is out of our control and we are just getting on with business.

“As football players it is our job to play football and win football games and we haven’t been winning but we are keen to change that around against Perth.”

Rudan stressed Sydney FC was glad to be playing at home this weekend and urged the fans to get behind the team in its hour of need.

“We want to be playing at home,” Rudan said, when asked if he would prefer to be away to evade the pressure. “We always want to play at home, in front of our fans. Aussie Stadium is our home and the fans are always great so we want to play here (Aussie Stadium).

“I urge the fans to come out and get behind us because we need that 12th man that has helped us at different stages, especially towards the end of last season in the big games.”

Sydney FC has lost Socceroo midfielder Mark Milligan with a hamstring injury but Steve Corica is still a 50-50 proposition. Scans showed there is no tear in Corica’s hamstring and he has been doing light jogging all week with a final decision to be made on his availability on Sunday morning.

One player coming back into the side is midfielder Robbie Middleby, who makes his return from a broken collarbone after seven weeks on the sidelines. The midfielder will slot back into the squad and is looking forward to getting back onto the pitch.

“I am pretty happy at the moment,” Middleby said. “It is always hard watching games and it has been a very frustrating time on the sideline but I am coming back at a good time. The boys are up for the game against Perth and it should be a good one.

“I have been training for almost three weeks and I have been testing it quite a lot so I’m not worried at all about the collarbone. All I want to do is get back out there and help the boys turn things around. It is a big game and I’m happy to be involved in such a big match.”

Sydney FC Squad: 1. Clint Bolton (gk), 2. Iain Fyfe, 3. Alvin Ceccoli, 4. Mark Rudan, 6. Ufuk Talay, 7. Robbie Middleby, 8. Ruben Zadkovich, 9. David Zdrilic, 10. Steve Corica, 11. Sasho Petrovski, 14. Alex Brosque, 15. Terry McFlynn, 20. Justin Pasfield (gk), 21. Nikolai Topor-Stanley, 22. Matthew Bingley, 27. Joel Theissen. (one to be omitted).

In: Joel Theissen, Matthew Bingley (promoted). Out: Mark Milligan (hamstring - 1 week).

A-League Round 10

Sydney FC vs Perth Glory
Sunday Afternoon, October 29
Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Kick off: 5:00pm (local/AEDT), 2:00pm (AWST)

Live Coverage on Fox Sports Three from 4:55pm (AEDT), 1:55pm (AWST).

Tickets are available through Ticketek by phoning 132 849, going into any Ticketek outlet or by logging onto www.ticketek.com.au.