Under-fire Sydney FC coach Frank Farina admits there’s no guarantees he’ll keep his job unless the A-League strugglers turn around their faltering season.
The Sky Blues sit third-last on the ladder and face arch rivals Melbourne Victory on Saturday at Allianz Stadium as they look to avoid a fourth successive defeat.
Farina is likely to include Alessandro Del Piero in his starting line-up after the Italian’s troublesome calf showed no ill-effects following last week’s substitute appearance in the 1-0 defeat by Perth.
Sydney have failed to find the net since the season-opening win against Newcastle and losing to the third-placed Victory could see them slump to the bottom of the table.
The former Socceroos boss became the eighth Sky Blues coach since the A-League kicked off in 2005 when he replaced Ian Crook last year, and the veteran coach is well aware that the trigger-happy Sydney FC board won’t tolerate poor results.
“Every game we look at as a must-win game,” Farina said.
“There is no assurances about anything in life. The bottom line is that we need to get results.
“If we get results then all the speculation and talk goes away. That’s what it’s all about for us at the moment. We just have to knuckle down.”
Farina went on the front foot this week to hit out at critics in his blog, claiming there were elements of the club’s support who have hurled “mistruths, abuse and personal insults” against him in an online campaign.
However, he denied his comments were directed at all of the Sky Blues’ supporters.
“I said in the blog it was not directed at our fans as such. We have a great set of fans who turn up in numbers and support the team,” he said.
“There are a small few who have taken it upon themselves anonymously to get very personal and for me that is not good form.”
“Terry (McFlynn) was also put through the wringer last year and when it gets personal it’s disappointing.”
Sydney skipper Del Piero says he is ready to start against the Victory after coming on for the last 30 minutes against the Glory following a calf problem that kept him out for two matches.
A decision to start the World Cup winner against the Victory will be made just before kick-off, but the former Juventus hitman is desperate to get his side back to winning ways.
“We need to adjust a couple of things to get it right,” Del Piero said.
“We’re not in a perfect moment having lost three games but we need to need to forget about that and just worry about the future.
“Last week we played pretty good, had lots of chances and not a lot of luck, but I am confident things will get better for us.”
The diminutive striker is well aware that he needs to fire, but said having spent almost 20 years under the microscope at the biggest club in Italy it’s a pressure he’s used to.
“I come from Italy where there’s pressure every day,” he said.
“When you score 29 goals people want ask why you haven’t scored 30.
“I feel the pressure, but it’s my job and I know what’s expected of me.”
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