Finals are a different ball game, according to Premiership-winning Head Coach Michael Matricciani.
After claiming back-to-back Premiers Plates, City will take on Central Coast in Gosford on Saturday afternoon in the first leg of their Semi-Final.
Read the Head Coach’s pre-match thoughts below…
SEMI-FINAL PREP
“It’s been a great week. We played a game against the 15 boys which was an excellent hit out. So we got minutes into the players that needed to, and we made sure that we kept working on a couple of little things.
“Everyone’s fit and ready to go. We haven’t quite pushed Specky [Mariana Speckmaier]. She was looking likely to be ready for this week, but we decided to probably just give her a few more days. So she’ll be back for next week.
“Look, they’re [Central Coast] a great side. We drew both encounters with them. I think the first one was a very even match. Could have gone either way when we drew 2-2 at home. New Year’s Eve, we dominated that match and probably should have won that game quite comfortably. But they’re a tough side. They’re well organised. I think they’re very well coached.”
FINALS A DIFFERENT BALL GAME
“It’s a good question [finals momentum]. I have this debate with a lot of coaches. In my personal opinion, I think it’s two totally different competitions. So it doesn’t matter if you just scraped into the finals. If you like us, went undefeated and top of the table, it’s now it’s for me, a totally different competition. So, it’s irrelevant now.
“I think whatever’s done is done. However you got there, you got there, and now both teams are going to do the best they can to try and win this tie to get into the final. So I think, over the 23 rounds, obviously we were we were top and won the Premiership and now it’s a Semi-Final.
“I think they’re a good side, like I mentioned before, we’re a good side, and I think it’s going to be a great battle and hopefully we get the upper hand.”
HOLLY MAC IN ATTACK
“Yeah, I didn’t know that stat that se hasn’t played a finals campaign yet. Look, she’s a player with a lot of quality. And, you know, we all forget that how little amount of games she’s actually played. So this has been a great run for her, but, for a player of her quality, at such a young age, to have the injuries, that she’s had for me, the mentality that she’s had to go through, is going to make, even stronger in the future.
“So, I think she’s got a lot of levels to keep improving on. She knows that as well. But yeah, we look forward to her doing well in this finals campaign.”
Fixture Details
A-League Women: Semi-Final Leg 1
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne City FC
Saturday 3 May, 2:15pm KO
Industree Group Stadium
Live on 10Bold, 10Play and Paramount+
