Melbourne Victory have their eyes and minds set on claiming all three points away to Sydney FC this weekend assured Head Coach Jeff Hopkins.
The Girls in Blue return to action to face rivals Sydney FC in Round 21 of the Ninja A-League season, targeting a crucial three points in their fixture to be played on Saturday, March 26, kick-off 5pm AEDT.
Amid a tight race for finals football with just two games remaining, the stakes are high with Victory sitting in sixth above seventh-placed Brisbane Roar, only separated by goal difference.
Taking on the Sky Blues at Leichhardt Oval for the first time in nearly two years, Hopkins and team will hope to repeat the 4-0 success Victory managed to produce on that day.
Last recording a gritty one-goal win over Western Sydney Wanderers at The Home of the Matildas prior to the international break and bye round for the Girls in Blue, Hopkins was full of praise for his side’s effort in their final home fixture of the regular season.
“(The Wanderers) played with a deep block, back five, three players in front, and made it very, very hard for us. We worked on it, and we had a few things planned, but it’s always hard playing against a team that’s well motivated and well-organised.
“I was really pleased that we were able to break them down. Kenna (White)’s run and Holly (Furphy)’s persistence them to follow things in was great… The main thing is that we get the three points. Moving on to this week, it’s pretty much the same intention for us.”
Turning attention to the game ahead, Hopkins made it clear he and his team will not be underestimating Sydney, despite their rock-bottom position on the A-League Women’s ladder.
“We’re expecting a really tough game. They’ve got a new young coach, he’s tried a few things with their different formations. I think it’s been good, we’ve had a couple of weeks to get prepared for this as well.
“It’s Sydney FC versus Melbourne Victory. This is a Big Blue. It’s a big game for us and it’s always a big game for them and we’re really looking forward to it.”
Staying clear on the task ahead for his team, rather than Victory’s fight to keep their position in the top six, the experienced Welsh gaffer understands the importance of taking each game once at a time.
“We are thinking about one thing only, and that is what Sydney FC got that can hurt us, and we’re prepared for that. How we can hurt them, how we can maybe do things a little bit differently to surprise them and to get them on the back foot as well.
“That’s all we’re thinking about, our life revolves around Leichhardt this weekend and nothing else.”
Watch Hopkins’ full press conference below.
