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Alex Brosque believes Sydney FC will never have a better chance of winning a first A-League minor premiership than when they take on a depleted Melbourne Victory at the Sydney Football Stadium on Sunday.
The Sky Blues need to beat the reigning champions to finish top of the A-League ladder and guarantee themselves a place in next year’s Asian Champions League, while a point will be enough for Ernie Merrick’s side to become premiers for a third time.
The Victory will come to the SFS without inspirational captain Kevin Muscat, who is suspended, as well as injured Socceroos pair Archie Thompson and Matthew Kemp.
Melbourne also are sweating on the fitness of forward Robbie Kruse, who is battling a thigh problem.
And although Brosque refuses to write off the champions’ chances, he admits the Victory are there for the taking.
“It is good to test yourselves against the best and Muskie and Archie are excellent players,” Brosque told AAP.
“But when it comes down to it, they are very influential players in their side and to not have two of them playing weakens their squad massively.
“With Archie and Muscat out you know if you are going to beat Melbourne it is when they are without those two and we must take advantage of that.
“The boys are all quietly confident and are all buzzing and can’t wait for Sunday.”
Brosque has also called on Sydney’s notoriously fickle public to get behind the team, with the clash the only sporting action in the city this weekend.
The club are hoping for a crowd of around 30,000, and Sydney-born Brosque has called on fans to come out in their masses.
“I read an article today which said Sydney people seem to make excuses and it was spot on, people say it is too hot, too cold to come out and watch the footy,” he said.
“We have a hard-core group of fans who are great but I guess for the ones who have nothing to do it is a great chance to come along, it is a big game and Sydneysiders love big fixtures.
“In terms of crowd numbers, we haven’t been as good as Melbourne but our fans are very vocal and get behind us and for us to have a good crowd this week it could make all the difference.”
Brosque also said skipper Steve Corica has expressed to the players how important the game is, with the retiring midfield veteran desperate to go out on a high in his final regular season appearance.
“I would be a massive thing for this club to win the minor premiership as we have never done it before and it would also be good to send Bimbi (Corica) out on a high.
“He has made us aware that occasions like this don’t come up very often and even he has never won one in nearly 20 years of playing.
“Being in this position is something we realise may never happen again so we must make sure we perform.”
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