In a sudden twist of events, Steve Corica, the head coach of Sydney FC confesses that he was taken aback by Melbourne City’s abrupt decision to terminate the contract of Rado Vidosic, not even three weeks into the new A-league season.
The Melbourne side chose to sever ties with Vidosic in the aftermath of a devastating 6-0 defeat at the hands of Adelaide United, which took place at Coopers Stadium last Sunday.
During Vidosic’s tenure, Melbourne City had conceded six goals in an excruciatingly mortifying A-League grand final loss against Central Coast Mariners the previous season. While the seasoned coach managed to retain his position after this debacle, the catastrophic collapse in Adelaide left no scope for redemption. Melbourne City, which is currently positioned at the bottom of the A-League ladder without a single point after their initial two games, swiftly selected former Reds coach Aurelio Vidmar as Vidosic’s replacement.
Interestingly, Corica’s team, the Sly Blues, have also kicked off their A-League campaign on a losing note with two defeats. This sets up an unusual scenario where the upcoming clash between Melbourne City and Sydney becomes an uncommon struggle for survival.
Reflecting on the situation, Corica noted, “We anticipate a challenging match given the recent change in Melbourne City’s leadership. It’s impossible to predict how the new coach will impact the team’s dynamics in such a short duration, but we will prepare accordingly.” In a touching sentiment, Corica expressed sympathy for Vidosic, who was previously his colleague at Sydney FC.
On the topic of Vidosic’s removal, Corica mused, “It does seem rather early in the season, however, the intricacies of the matter remain unknown to me.”
Nevertheless, Corica has firm belief in Melbourne City’s state of preparedness under Vidmar, a former national teammate of his, “’Viddy’ comes with a wealth of experience in the A-League and abroad. A team usually displays a resurgence of energy under new leadership. We will accord them due respect and brace ourselves for that.”
The Sydney team is eager to hit the ground running from the opening siren, particularly after last week’s 3-0 loss to Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium. The defeat further stunted Sydney FC’s initially underwhelming start to their A-League season following a 2-0 home defeat to Melbourne Victory a week prior.
Corica’s side, fresh off their Australia Cup triumph last month, left people yearning for a stronger performance. Reflecting on the disappointing start, Corica lamented, “We’ve been excessively leggy on the defensive, which is my foremost concern. It is crucial for us to rectify this issue immediately.”
Despite the disheartening start, Corica assures that there is no sense of panic amongst his team. He further dismisses speculation about his own position, focusing instead on the potential for an upturn. As he states, “In football, fortunes can change dramatically with just one win and we are well aware of this. Yes, the losses were dispiriting, but we remain confident – one victory can rewrite the entire narrative and spawn optimism.”
