Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou will urge his charges to repay the faith of the fans when his side takes to the field against Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on Sunday.
Brisbane Roar coach Ange Postecoglou will urge his charges to repay the faith of the fans when his side takes to the field against Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on Sunday.
Despite not recording a win against their closest foes last season, Brisbane-s fans were a driving force for the team, with the Boxing Day match at the same venue a highlight for the vociferous support offered up by the fans in orange.
Postecoglou said it was time to give them a chance to celebrate a positive result.
“We-ll have quite a few supporters come down to the Gold Coast and it will be a good atmosphere,” Postecoglou said.
“There was a rivalry built up last year and we want to build on it this year for sure.
“The derby game should mean something more, it certainly means something more to our supporters.
“I don-t think we can sit there and say: ‘The reality of it is you do only get three points, you don-t get six points for it-.
“For us, coming off a really disappointing season last year and knowing our next game is a home game against Sydney, we-ve got a real chance to give something for our supporters to be optimistic about.”
While his players will be giving everything they have for the shirt on Sunday, Postecoglou knows the season is not won or lost on the opening weekend.
The Brisbane mentor expects some early caginess in the contest as the two sides find their feet in the new season.
“Regardless of who we played in the first round it was going to be important for us, but the fact that it is Gold Coast it does make it a little more special,” he said.
“Will anything be definitive after the weekend? Probably not.
“But certainly in terms of getting your season kick-started, it-s a good way to start.”
With a comprehensive pre-season program now behind them, Postecoglou is confident his new-look squad are primed for action.
Postecoglou has brought 12 new faces into the fold for the new Hyundai A-League season and the three months spent on the training track have been used to help the players familiarise themselves with each other and the style of play the Head Coach wants to implement.
“We started earlier than anyone else, so we-ve had a good three months preparation for this,” he said.
“We do have a lot of new faces, but I don-t think that will work against us, if anything I think there-s a real enthusiasm about the place.
“When you get new faces it tends to bring a new energy to the group.
“There-s no doubt we-re hoping to improve as the season goes along but we-ll certainly be ready for Sunday.”
