Rev-up ... coach Ian Crook asked his team to work for the supporters. Photo: Getty Images
SYDNEY FC coach Ian Crook told his players to ''do it for the members and supporters'' in his final team talk before the inaugural Sydney derby last Saturday. In the week leading up to the game, Crook avoided building up the hype within the Sydney camp but spurred his players on with a last-minute speech highlighting the significance of the occasion.
Sky Blues defender Trent McClenahan has revealed that his coach injected the passion of the cross-town rivalry into the players moments before kick-off.
Crook motivated his team to perform for their ardent fans and said that winning the derby had a prize greater than the three competition points on offer.
''First and foremost, he wanted to make out how important it was being the first Sydney derby. He tried to get his point across to us before the game about that,'' McClenahan said. ''It was going to be a tough battle, we had to stay strong throughout the whole game and … do it for all the members and the supporters, everyone who's part of the club, because it's about bragging rights now.''
The derby was McClenahan's best performance in a Sky Blue shirt since joining the club in the off-season. His partnership with Seb Ryall in the heart of Sydney's defence denied the Wanderers their first goal of the season.
The 27-year-old believes the atmosphere at Parramatta Stadium contributed to his strong showing.
''I don't think you can fully prepare for it. You mentally prepare for it, but once you get out there, the excitement, the passion from the fans really pumps you up, and that turned into the performance last night from us,'' McClenahan said.
The sell-out crowd was treated to a physical showdown between two teams that never lost sight of their game plan and tactical structures. The Wanderers were strong in attack at set pieces and on the counter, while Sydney FC found success in their quick passing game, but both teams had few clear-cut chances.
''It was really tough. Both sides didn't want to lose, both sides wanted to win the game for their fans, so it always translated to a tough game,'' McClenahan said.
''We had to be strong defensively to hold out West Sydney and we knew that if we kept them out we could get chances at the other end.''
The Sky Blues were lacking match practice coming into the start of the season and McClenahan admitted that he didn't assert his dominance in defence in the first two games. Sydney FC appeared to have finally regained match fitness with a fluid performance in the derby and the centre-back believes that the passion of the derby helped the defenders improve their form.
''We were all disappointed in the first two games, not just in defence. We've been working hard in the last couple of weeks to rectify that defensively and we were really happy and we put our bodies on the line,'' McClenahan said. ''It was the first Sydney derby, so we were all really pumped up to get the win for the fans. So luckily that paid off.''
Meanwhile, Sydney FC defender Fabio will undergo a medical test early this week to determine the extent of his injury. The Brazilian left-back limped off the field late in the second-half against the Wanderers with possible thigh strain, and was replaced by Young Socceroos defender Daniel Petkovski. Defenders Nathan Sherlock, Pascal Bosschaart and Adam Griffiths are already missing through injury.
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