Graham Arnold had a long-standing rivalry with Brisbane when he was the Central Coast coach and he says nothing has changed now he’s at the helm of Sydney FC.
The Sky Blues face a resurgent Roar side at Allianz Stadium on Sunday with Arnold’s men looking to equal a club-record of nine unbeaten matches.
With Sydney looking like genuine title contenders for the first time in five years and the Roar rediscovering some of the form that earned them three championships on four seasons, Arnold is expecting an action-packed encounter.
“I had a three-year rivalry with Brisbane up at the Mariners and nothing’s changed since I’ve come here.
“Frans Thijssen is doing a fantastic job, he’s recruited well, like we did, in the Asian Cup period and both teams have gone to another level.
“So it’s going to be a great clash.”
After an unconvincing start to the season, Roar have gone on to post a five-game unbeaten run.
The run began in German playmaker Thomas Broich’s first game back from ankle surgery.
But Arnold says he’s not the only player the Sky Blues need to be wary of.
“It’s no coincidence that Thomas Broich has come back in and they’re performing much better,” he said.
“So we have to make sure we’re at the top of our game.
“I think overall as a team they’re getting back to where they were.
“They’ve got quality players like Broich, Mat MacKay, Henrique is always a danger, Brandon Borello is having a great season and Luke DeVere has been picked in the Socceroos so he’s obviously ding something right.”
But Sydney have their own dangerman in marquee striker Marc Janko.
The Austrian, who has taken the lead in the race for the golden boot with 13 goals this season, will break a league record if he scores in a seventh straight game on Sunday.
But Arnold says that’s no motivation for the side.
“We prefer team records than individual records,” he said.
“Mark has been on a great roll of late and I’m sure he wants to continue it.
“But we have to just concentrate on the team performance and make sure our structures are good and we play to the game plan.
“If all that comes to fruition then hopefully Marc can get the record he wants.”
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.
Even though St.Pauli ultimately lost a high-scoring affair, Jackson Irvine was a standout, as well as scoring a late goal.
Mathew Leckie played a pivotal part in Melbourne City claiming an 8-nil win; playing a role in several of his team's goals.
The loser of the Sydney Derby will be under immense pressure entering the final three matches of the season.
Anthony Caceres is a player with immense talent and has a fantastic work rate, broke the deadlock against the Mariners in the 74th minute.
Round 19 was an interesting weekend of football with no draws, 19 goals in six matches, two five-goal games on Sunday and for the…
One of the biggest games on the Australian sporting calendar took place in front of a huge crowd on Saturday night – and it…
