Sydney FC midfielder Anthony Caceres says the Sky Blues are ‘motivated’ to beat Melbourne City

Anthony Caceres is among a handful of Sydney FC players keen to get the better of their former club, Melbourne City, on Friday night.

Sydney FC’s Anthony Caceres hopes to get the better of his former club on Friday night. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Talented midfielder Anthony Caceres feels so entrenched at Sydney FC that he can often “forget” that he was previously a Melbourne City player.

However, what’s easy for Caceres to remember about City is the Melbourne club’s recent A-League dominance, including three successive premierships and the 2020-21 championship.

“You get the buzz playing them because they’re the top team at the moment, and you rise to the occasion to play against the top teams,” Caceres said ahead of Sydney’s semi-final first-leg clash against City at Allianz Stadium on Friday night

Caceres is one of five Sydney players, the others being skipper Alex Wilkinson, fellow midfielders Luke Brattan and Paulo Retre and goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, to have played for either City in its current existence or when it was known as Melbourne Heart.

Anthony Caceres has been in good form for Sydney FC. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Personally, I feel like I’m so strongly associated with Sydney FC now that I forget that I played for City,” said Caceres, whose most recent appearance for the Melbourne club came five years ago.

“At the time we had some fantastic players and some fantastic teams, but for some reason we couldn’t click.

“I don’t know if it was a question of culture, but they seem to have nailed that now and they’re reaping the rewards from it.

“They play a very threatening style of football and if you give them space, they will punish you.”

But enough is enough for Caceres and his teammates. who intend on reminding City that Sydney – 2-1 winners over the Wanderers in last weekend’s elimination final – is a powerhouse that has won the most championships of any A-League club with five.

“A club like Sydney has ambitions to win silverware more than anything, so our focus will be to go as far as possible,” Caceres said.

“We’ve been in grand finals before, so we know what it’s about.

“We have a team that is experienced in these sort of games. We know what it takes to win silverware, and it’s up to us now to continue the momentum we have had in recent weeks.

“It’s not hard to be upbeat and motivated. We’re on a high after beating the Wanderers, and we’re full of energy.”

Despite enjoying time at City, 30-year-od Caceres said he had “found himself” at Sydney.

“I feel as fit as ever to contribute to wherever the coach (Steve Corica) puts me,” he said.

“I’m at my peak and I have more to give. My best years are ahead of me.”