Interim coach Jean-Paul de Marigny expects Western Sydney to bring the same ‘intensity and desire’ to Friday’s Sydney Derby as when the Wanderers shocked Sydney FC back in October.
And de Marigny, who was in the assistant coach’s seat at Bankwest Stadium back in Round 3, went one step further to demand the Red and Black play even better when the arch-rivals clash at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.
Mitchell Duke’s 19th-minute diving header inflicted in 1-0 defeat on their crosstown adversaries, the only loss Steve Corica’s runaway Hyundai A-League leaders have suffered during a history-making 2019/20 campaign.
The Red and Black had their backs against the wall throughout the first Sydney Derby back at Wanderers’ spiritual home in Parramatta, and de Marigny wants to not only see the same hunger on Friday, but an improved performance to go along with it.
“There’s one thing that we did in that game: the intensity and the desire,” said de Marigny. “Collectively, we did really well that way.
“In terms of without the ball, we were desperate and we scored a really good goal.
“Nothing will change in that regards, we’ll just be better with the ball.”
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Since that fateful night west of the Harbour City, 126 days before the sides meet again at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium, Sydney FC have strung together an destructive run of 12 wins and one draw from 13 matches.
The defending Champions have collected more points than any team in Hyundai A-League history after 16 games – 43 points – but de Marigny believes Western Sydney are ready to deal another damaging blow to their noisy neighbours.
“They haven’t changed. They’ve been very successful, they are a good side,” De Marigny added.
“Steve [Corica]’s doing a really good job since he’s taken over from [Graham Arnold].
“They haven’t changed too much in terms of their structure and so on.
“Saying that, we’re a good side also. We’ve got great players and they are in a real positive mindset.
“It’s a good opportunity for us to make another statement.
“We know their strengths, we know their weaknesses and it’s all about us now taking full advantage of that.”
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Round 18
Sydney FC v Western Sydney Wanderers
Friday, 28 February
Netstrata Jubilee Stadium
Kick-off: 8pm AEDT
