Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay confident of a good showing from Sky Blues against Jeonbuk

Sydney FC is facing a ‘massive’ test against South Korean club Jeonbuk in the AFC Champions League Two quarter-finals.

Sydney FC coach Ufuk Talay has urged a “smart” away performance from the Sky Blues in the first leg of their AFC Champions League Two quarter-final against South Korean outfit Jeonbuk on Thursday night.

With the second leg to take place at Allianz Stadium next Thursday, Talay wants to ensure his team remains on target to reach the semi-finals at the conclusion of the first leg at Yongin Mireu Stadium,

“We’ll never set up the team not to lose, and we’ll always set up the team to try to win but also we need to be smart, need to manage the game and realise that we do have another 90 minutes after this first game,” Talay said on Wednesday.

“It’s very important that we get a positive outcome away from home, which will give us a good opportunity back at home in a week’s time.”

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The Sydney squad has been in South Korea since last Sunday night, and despite the cold conditions, Talay has been pleased with his team’s preparations for what he described as a “massive game”.

“The travel was long but it was OK. Being here longer has helped, the couple of training sessions we’ve already had here has helped, and the climate being fresh and cold will help us with the way we want to play,” he said.

“There are no nerves. It’s another game against a good opponent, and we’ve shown in the past that we lift for these big occasions so we’re looking forward to the challenge.

“This competition is very important for us as a club. We want to play in these big games.”

Talay said the big-game experience of Sydney’s Brazilian marquee man Douglas Costa would be vital against a Jeonbuk team coached by former Tottenham star Gus Poyet.

“He’s a great player … and he does influence games and he does change games,” Talay said.