City captain Bruno Fornaroli says Saturday’s Melbourne Derby loss has spurred his side to march on in January and climb the A-League ladder as they’ll look to keep pace with the leading pack.
The Derby loss was City’s first in five Melbourne Derbies and the Club’s all-time leading goal scorer believes this will be the catalyst for his side to regain the spark that saw them start the season with vigour.
“I don’t like losing. I don’t like losing a derby,” Fornaroli said.
“We have another opportunity in the future and we have one more derby. I think we have a great group, a great team so when you create this, we need to continue.
“We need to continue to work hard and try to win and try to catch Sydney.”
An action-packed November and December period has seen the side play three games in under ten days twice and with a short rest for the squad coming into the Summer of Football the Uruguayan believes his side has been rejuvenated with the break.
“I think maybe this break closes the FFA Cup [period] and makes us start to think about the league. It’s a good break for us, everyone stays with their family and friends so it’s great,” he said.
“It’s normal when you win something after a lot of pressure, its normal sometime for the players to feel this way, to go down a little bit.
“Of course. We have to [think about Perth]. It’s a great moment playing at home again and here we can’t lose points. So we need to win.
“We know we can lose points, because of this nine point [gap]. Also I think when Sydney lose points there is pressure because all the team come from behind and put pressure on. For us it’s important to not lose more points here at home.
City will have the chance to get back on the winners list this Tuesday after Boxing Day as they take on Perth in our A-League and W-League double header at AAMI Park. Click here to secure your place at the match or sign up for our 5 Match Membership below.
