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Farina unfazed by constant scrutiny

Roar Guru
16th April, 2014
9

Sydney FC coach Frank Farina doesn’t know if his side’s do-or-die finals clash against Melbourne Victory on Friday could be his last game at the helm of the A-League club.

But the embattled mentor says he won’t let the constant pressure and scrutiny affect him or his team as they vie for a spot in the semi-finals.

Having beaten Perth last week to secure fifth spot on the ladder, the Sky Blues travel to Melbourne for the Etihad Stadium encounter against fourth-placed Victory.

Farina’s contract for next season was said to be dependant on him securing a top-four position.

With that not achieved, now it’s believed the only thing that can save his job is a championship.

Asked if he’d had any further discussions with the club about his future Farina said: “Not at this stage, no.

“We’ve really been focused on the last six to eight weeks.”

Farina has endured more pressure and had the spotlight shore on him more than most other coaches this season – something he says is just part and parcel of coaching Sydney FC.

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But he says it’s all water off a duck’s back.

“It is a game after all,” he said.

“Along with being in a high profile position comes scrutiny some good, some negative and if you dwell on either of those it can affect you.

“But I just put it behind me and say ‘let’s move on’.

“Every week is a different week and different pressures come with it.”

This week, the pressure can’t get any more intense and while the Victory have yet to beat Sydney this season Farina knows past form counts for nothing in the finals.

“It’s a stat and it’s nice to have that,” he said.

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“But finals football everyone knows is a new ball game,

“It’s like cup football now. There’s no draws involved, there’s got to be results so there’s a different kind of pressure.

“What’s happened throughout the season is gone now and it’s a new competition.”

Victory come into this clash hot off their 2-0 Asian Champions League over Guangzhou Evergrande on Tuesday.

And while Farina will be hoping the tight turnaround may leave them worse off, he actually feels the win will only make them more confident.

Farina says he plans to stick to largely the same squad as last week but is hopeful striker Ranko Despotovic will be fit for Friday.

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