Rudan returns Ready to Roll; A-League

KronicalÃ‚â„¢ · 01-11-2007, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Rudan returns ready to roll
Friday, 12 January, 2007 - 12:11PM
Ben Collins, Sportal

Mark Rudan
Mark Rudan
Captain Mark Rudan will return for Sydney FC against Adelaide United this Sunday and knows he won't have to do much to get his team-mates fired up for the crunch clash at Hindmarsh Stadium.

The Sydney skipper was suspended for last week's shock 1-0 home defeat by the New Zealand Knights and although he admits that the reigning champion may have been complacent against the Hyundai A-League's bottom club, he insists Sydney will not make the same mistake against Adelaide.

Last week's defeat means Sydney goes into the penultimate game of the regular season just one point ahead of Adelaide in the battle for a second-placed finish, with both sides still to secure a place in the finals, but Rudan believes these high-pressure games suit Sydney.

Adelaide faced Sydney in last season's finals but Sydney managed to beat the minor premier before going on to win the championship, and Sydney has won both its previous meetings this season.

"We've got the wood on them," said Rudan. "The results have gone in our favour and we enjoy playing against them. I think they bring out the best in us and I think it's a great time to be playing them too after last week."

"No disrespect to New Zealand, but we tend to drop our intensity at times against that sort of opposition, but on the flip side of the coin, when we're playing against the likes of Adelaide or Melbourne, we tend to rise to the occasion and there's no better time to rise than this week."

"Two games out from the finals, only one point ahead of Adelaide; it's such an important game so there's no need to motivate the players too much this week."

"I think it's important that the boys know there's two weeks to go until the finals and we're not in the finals yet," he added.

"If we finish second then we get a double bite at the cherry in terms of making the Grand Final and we don't want to let that go. You don't really need that much (extra) motivation when you know what's on the line, and if you can't motivate yourself for that then you shouldn't be playing the game."

Rudan had to watch from the sidelines last week as he served the second match of a two-game suspension while Robbie Middleby was ruled out with a calf injury, but both are available again this weekend.

The main concern for coach Terry Butcher is the fitness of top scorer Sasho Petrovski, who is doubtful due to a back injury.

"It's always good to come back from suspension," said Rudan. "I'm very excited to get back but I'm more excited that we've got the finals coming up around the corner and obviously I want to be a part of that."

"I'm not a big fan of watching when I'm not involved and it was difficult not being able to shout and organise, and give them directions."

"It was disappointing but the great thing is that we can always bounce back. There's always next week."

Credit - A-League.com.au

Rudan returns Ready to Roll; A-League

This is a discussion on Rudan returns Ready to Roll; A-League within the European Sports forums, part of the Sports Forums category; Rudan returns ready to roll Friday, 12 January, 2007 - 12:11PM Ben Collins, Sportal Mark Rudan Mark Rudan Captain Mark ...