Complacency could be the biggest challenge confronting Sydney FC as it prepares to tackle Adelaide United in the National Youth League grand final at Hindmarsh Stadium on Saturday.
The Sky Blues were the dominant side this season, winning 13 games and finishing six points clear of the pack at the end of Round 21.
They played the Reds three times this season and came away with two victories and a 3-3 draw.
All of these factors suggest a Sydney win is on the cards but coach Steve O’Connor admits it’s been hard to keep his team focused for every game. He expects the grand final will be no different.
“It’s been a little bit difficult, young players get carried away at times and to reign them back in and getting them preparing properly, mentally and getting that consistency you want from players game-in game-out is always difficult,” O’Connor said.
“It’s the mark of young players, they don’t have that (consistency) normally, so that’s something we try and work on. They know Adelaide is a decent side and if they are not on their game, we’ll find it very, very difficult.”
O’Connor said Sydney’s disappointing performance in the A-League competition had also affected his team’s preparation.
“It was good in the respect that you’re getting young players playing in there and you obviously want to achieve that,” he said.
“On the other side it makes it difficult working with your squad, working with six or seven of them training with the first team and not with your team. You lose that continuity, that gelling at times, and that happened for almost the second half of the season.”
Sydney captain Chris Triantis agreed it would be a challenge to forget about their stellar form and concentrate on the final 90 minutes of the season at Hindmarsh Stadium.
“You get a bit carried away I guess, winning most of your games pretty comfortably,” Triantis said.
“It is difficult motivating some of the younger players but I think we should be alright once everyone is concentrated and once you get here everyone starts to focus because you realise it’s a grand final.”
“We’ve got some good players down in Sydney, it should be a hard game against Adelaide, they gave us a tough battle the last time we played.”
Meanwhile O’Connor is full of praise for the NYL system, believing it provides young players with plenty of incentive to succeed.
“It provides a forum for the young players to take that next step. If you can work closely with the senior squad, the players moving into the senior squad and then coming back, then it helps to make it seamless,” he said.
“It provides pathway as well for the young players in your state and in your area. They see there is way in to take that step.”
