Aziz Behich feels there’s a big opportunity for City’s youngsters to step up as his side faces a number of injuries to senior players.
City return to action just three days after their 1-1 draw with Central Coast on New Year’s Eve, when they open the New Year against Wellington at AAMI Park on Friday afternoon.
Read the skipper’s pre-match thoughts below…
YOUTH STEPPING UP
“It’s been a rough start for us as a squad. It’s a majority of our senior players [who are getting injured]. In saying that we’ve just got to pretty much roll up our sleeves and continue business as usual. Obviously, it gets difficult.”
“But the young boys that have had to step up and get a chance, you know, they’re doing well. A lot is asked of them, but I think they’ve been great so far.”
LEADING BY EXAMPLE
“I just want to win. It’s just a mentality. I’ve got a great change room, a great bunch of boys. There are no groups or egos or anything like that.
“I just sat the boys down from day one and just said if we want to succeed, we’ve got to all be on the same train. And if you’re not on that along the way, you’re going to get left behind. That was pretty much the message.
“We’re all striving for the same thing in the end. We want to be there on the final day. That’s what this club strives for, and what’s expected.”
THE RIGHT ATTITUDE
“If I look at the Auckland game and even the Victory game, I think we could have took maximum points there. Especially in the first-half of those games, we were pretty dominant and then obviously against Central Coast conceding from a set-piece was disappointing on our behalf.
“We’re just trying to take it game at a time, but we pride ourselves on work ethic and giving 100% and attitude is the most important – if you have the right attitude, it doesn’t matter who is out on the pitch, if you do the right job, you’re going to get the reward for it. Once those boys come back for us it’s going to be a huge boost for us as a squad.”
