Proud coach Patrick Kisnorbo believes the club’s Westfield W-League Grand Final win will silence any of Melbourne City’s doubters and shows the enormous belief amongst his players.
City created Westfield W-League history on Sunday, securing a third-straight title after toppling Sydney FC 2-0 at Allianz Stadium.
Having won the last two championships, City endured an inconsistent regular season and only snuck into the finals in the last round with a win over Newcastle Jets.
But they saved their best for the business end of the season, first beating Premiers Brisbane in the semi-final before Sunday’s superb performance to lift the trophy again.
“Obviously we set out and had a lot of people doubting us,” Kisnorbo said.
“We knew it would be a tough year this year, especially with the competition growing and obviously players improving, standards getting higher, we knew it would be a difficult season.
“But it just shows with belief that we have amongst the group and a special bond that no one can break that at all.
“I know that at times we were inconsistent but again, it just showed that what we have at this club and with this group is very special and I think it would hard to find a group like this, ever again, if not for a while because they are tremendous footballers.”
City were on the front foot from the outset in the decider, although Sydney FC had the best early chance win Lisa De Vanna fired wide from close range.
But as soon as Jess Fishlock opened the scoring with a classy lobbed shot from distance, there was only going to be one winner.
Fishlock – who was player of the Grand Final for a second straight year – had a hand in City’s second as well as her free-kick hit the crossbar, with Jodie Taylor scoring from the rebound.
“The players that we have are special. I think that’s the difference, they’re special, they’re humble, they’re great characters and they work extremely hard,” Kisnorbo said.
“And with success, hard work is the [main] ingredient and it showed.
“I thought Sydney were great, they’ve been great all year. But when the key moments [came] we hung in there and individual brilliance, great goals, great lead up play, I think they are the difference in a Grand Final,” the City boss added.
“At the end of the day the Grand Final is 90 minutes, it’s not like a season. But we were clinical when we needed to be and that was the difference and again it was fantastic, a fantastic job by the girls.”
