Sydney FC's Alessandro Del Piero has hinted that he's likely to stay with the club. Picture: Stephen Cooper. Source: The Daily Telegraph
ALESSANDRO Del Piero has dropped another hint that he will stay to fight Sydney FC's cause for another year and is delighted by the The Daily Telegraph's online petition imploring him to stay.
Del Piero declared himself fully fit to face the league leaders, Central Coast Mariners, tonight and club officials said he was hugely gratified by the calls for him to stay, which came a week after the club said it wanted to activate the second year of his deal and explore options beyond that.
"We have time to discuss (the second year) but at the moment the best thing for me, the club, the teammates and everyone is to concentrate on the games," Del Piero said.
"We have to worry about this next period because it's very difficult for us and we have to put all our energy, mental and physical, into it. (But) I want to say thank you because I heard about the petition, so thank you to everyone who has signed it.
"I'm really enjoying (his time in Sydney) ... but now have to win a couple more games for more enjoyment."
Pressed on when there might be movement over a second year, Del Piero said "the contract is not a stress for me".
"I'm really happy to be here," he said.
"I want to put all my knowledge and heart into this (winning games) at the moment and not to talk about (a new deal)."
Del Piero was blunt about the challenge facing Sydney after a woeful start that has left them bottom, six points off even a place in the finals, and acknowleged that games against the Mariners, Adelaide and Perth were a daunting prospect.
"It's not too late but the time is rolling and that's why we have to move quicker and get some points," Del Piero said.
"We are in trouble for sure. We've had a lot of losses, injuries, but this is not an excuse for us.
"We understand we're not in confidence to play a game without pressure and stress but this is our moment, we have to (play) with heart, fight, passion and hopefully some luck."
Coach Frank Farina has to reshuffle his pack with defenders Pascal Bosschaart and Fabio out through injury, and both Jason Culin and Terry McFlynn absent from training yesterday through injury and illness respectively.
Farina warned his players that his hard words after the 2-1 loss to Newcastle last Saturday would be followed by tougher actions if he didn't see a fightback from his team in response.
"It's not nice as a player to cop a bit of a verbal lashing but when it's deserved it will happen," Farina said.
"It was deserved last week. They're professional players and they need to react in the right way and I think they have this week. I hope that will show in the game."
Mariners coach Graham Arnold meanwhile makes one change, with defender Pedj Bojic suspended meaning Zac Anderson comes into the middle and Trent Sainsbury switches to rightback.
"When Zac came in and Patrick (Zwaanswijk) was suspended, Zac did a fantastic job in the middle," Arnold said.
"So just the one change, everyone else is fit and healthy."
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