A-League grand final: Sydney FC’s Josh Brillante says Sky Blues have no fear of Perth Glory

Josh Brillante was always confident he would earn a recall to the Sydney FC starting side after losing his place when a move to South Korea loomed.

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Bundaberg product Josh Brillante was always confident he would earn a recall to the Sydney FC starting side after losing his place when a move to South Korea loomed.

Sydney coach Steve Corica dropped Brillante in March, saying the midfielder had been distracted by a possible switch to K-League outfit Pohang Steelers.

Corica said the Sky Blues had “decided to let him go” but the move fell through.

Brillante, 26, is no certainty to remain with Sydney beyond this season, but showed enough to win his spot back in more than enough time to help guide the Sky Blues into Sunday’s A-League grand final against Perth Glory at Optus Stadium.

Josh Brillante celebrates with Sydney FC teammates Adam Le Fondre and Milos Ninkovic after Le Fondre scored against Melbourne Victory in Sunday’s semi-final rout. Picture: Getty Images

“I wasn’t concerned at all,” Brillante said when asked if he feared he would fail to recapture a spot place back in Sydney’s best XI considering the Sky Blues’ depth.

“I knew if I worked hard, did my thing, and fight for my place in the team, I’d be OK. I’ve been happy with my form.”

Brillante has also been pleased with Sydney’s form, particularly in last Sunday’s 6-1 semi-final thrashing of 2018 champions Melbourne Victory.

“To get a result like that was quite unexpected but we know we have that in us with the talent we have in the team,” the former Gold Coast United prodigy said.

“If we come out firing and clicking like we did last weekend, it’s definitely not off the cards for (Sunday) either.”

Brillante said Sydney did not fear the Glory, having had two wins over the premiers this season.

Josh Brillante has fought his way back into the Sydney FC team after being dropped earlier in the season. Picture: AAP

“We’ve done it twice this year so this weekend’s game is no different,” he said.

Brillante – a member of Sydney’s premiership-championship double-winning side in 2017 – said his side’s failure to reach last year’s grand final after again finishing first on the ladder was a reminder that switching off at any time during the finals could prove disastrous.

“It’s not great when you smash it the league and then in the finals, anything can happen and you got, but you expect the teams that are doing well during the (regular) season to continue that on to the finals,” he said.

“We’ve now made it a step further than we did last season, we’re in the grand final and that big picture is still where it’s important to football in Australia, so we want to be taking that trophy home with us.”

Originally published as A-League grand final: Sydney FC’s Josh Brillante says Sky Blues have no fear of Perth Glory