- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
Melbourne City boss John van ‘t Schip is expecting to face a much-improved Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Saturday night.
Van ‘t Schip was the happier of the two managers in round one when he brought on Spanish striker David Villa to equalise in a 1-1 draw between the two sides.
But in the six weeks since the pair of Sky Blue foes last met, it’s Graham Arnold’s Sydney FC that’s kicked on.
Their 12-point haul is the most Sydney have garnered from the opening six weeks in their A-League history, impressing City’s Dutch boss.
“Their results have been a lot better (and) they’ve been playing better, that’s for sure,” he said.
“Everybody can see Sydney have made improvements.”
Sydney will have to make do striker Corey Gameiro, who suffered a season-ending knee injury while on Olyroos duty.
But that hasn’t stopped van ‘t Schip worrying about Sydney’s forward line.
He named Austrian marquee Marc Janko and Bernie Ibini amongst their chief goal threats – neither of whom were available for their round one fixture.
It’s quite the injection of attacking prowess – and comes in contrast to losses on City’s side of the ledger.
Villa’s departure, marquee Robert Koren’s calf injury and Massimo Murdocca’s groin strain has forced van ‘t Schip into signing ex-Roar midfielder Liam Miller.
Miller played in City’s 2-2 draw with Central Coast last week and joins the club until the Asian Cup break in January as an injury replacement for Jonatan Germano.
“That’s something we acted on, we had a talk with Liam and hopefully we can help each other,” van ‘t Schip said.
That’s not to say City don’t have the weapons to trouble the league’s most miserly defence.
In Damien Duff, they have the league’s leading provider of goals (3) and Socceroo Aaron Mooy is the competition’s top tackler (26).
Van ‘t Schip said after playing for just a handful of minutes in Australia’s 2-1 loss to Japan on Tuesday night, Mooy would feature.
“Aaron is perfectly in condition… it was a good experience for him to be there, he’s coming back fresh and had a good sleep so it’s no problem,” he said.
Are you the ultimate team manager? Pick your own superstar team and go head to head with other football fans for glory and cash prizes on Draftstars. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.