melci
November 10th, 2006, 09:59 PM
Fernando eyes second spot
Melbourne Victory's 12-point lead at the top of the A-League table has Adelaide United all-but conceding the Premiership to their Victorian rival.
While coach John Kosmina on Friday insisted the Victory might still be caught with some help from other clubs, United's Brazilian aggressor Fernando said his sights would be on shoring up second spot for the finals.
"To be honest with you I think we have to aim for second spot now; I'm not saying we have to give up anything but Melbourne is a solid team, they've been playing really well and now they're 12 points ahead so it's going to be hard to catch them," Fernando said on Friday.
"I think we have to aim for second spot and then have a chance in the play-offs to have a second chance and bring the grand final here to Hindmarsh."
"We're not going to worry too much about Melbourne, we just need to worry about our game, and if we keep playing like this we're going to make the grand final."
Kosmina said the club would set small goals over the next few weeks and without worrying about where it sat in relation to the Victory.
"You can't say we want to catch Melbourne, it's not an unrealistic goal, but the goals you've got to set have got to be reasonably achievable," he said.
"At the moment they're 12 points clear of us, we've got a game in hand, but what we've got to look at is we want to beat Queensland, then we want to beat Sydney."
"If we can keep winning maybe someone else will do us a favour, I don't think you should ever focus on second but we've got to focus on winning."
First up for United is its visit to a Queensland Roar side wrestling with the dissatisfaction of an ignominious loss to New Zealand.
"They had a fantastic start and for the last few games they haven't played really well and the results didn't happen so I think they have a lot of pressure," Fernando said.
"Everyone over there is expecting them to win the game, but they know it's always hard to play against us and we're going there comfortable."
Last modified: 10 November 2006 19:26:48
http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=77709
Melbourne Victory's 12-point lead at the top of the A-League table has Adelaide United all-but conceding the Premiership to their Victorian rival.
While coach John Kosmina on Friday insisted the Victory might still be caught with some help from other clubs, United's Brazilian aggressor Fernando said his sights would be on shoring up second spot for the finals.
"To be honest with you I think we have to aim for second spot now; I'm not saying we have to give up anything but Melbourne is a solid team, they've been playing really well and now they're 12 points ahead so it's going to be hard to catch them," Fernando said on Friday.
"I think we have to aim for second spot and then have a chance in the play-offs to have a second chance and bring the grand final here to Hindmarsh."
"We're not going to worry too much about Melbourne, we just need to worry about our game, and if we keep playing like this we're going to make the grand final."
Kosmina said the club would set small goals over the next few weeks and without worrying about where it sat in relation to the Victory.
"You can't say we want to catch Melbourne, it's not an unrealistic goal, but the goals you've got to set have got to be reasonably achievable," he said.
"At the moment they're 12 points clear of us, we've got a game in hand, but what we've got to look at is we want to beat Queensland, then we want to beat Sydney."
"If we can keep winning maybe someone else will do us a favour, I don't think you should ever focus on second but we've got to focus on winning."
First up for United is its visit to a Queensland Roar side wrestling with the dissatisfaction of an ignominious loss to New Zealand.
"They had a fantastic start and for the last few games they haven't played really well and the results didn't happen so I think they have a lot of pressure," Fernando said.
"Everyone over there is expecting them to win the game, but they know it's always hard to play against us and we're going there comfortable."
Last modified: 10 November 2006 19:26:48
http://www.theworldgame.com.au/home/index.php?pid=st&cid=77709