When Melbourne City take on Sydney FC in Sunday’s A-League grand final, they will run out with messages of support from some of the world’s best soccer minds ringing in their ears. As well as one from one of England’s biggest rock stars of recent decades.
Pep Guardiola, the English Premier League and Champions League-winning coach of Manchester City, will be getting up early at his Manchester home to watch the City Football Group’s Australian franchise attempt to win its first championship. Joining him will be his ex-Barcelona teammate and current City director of football Txiki Begiristain and English title-winning forward Brian Marwood, the group’s managing director of global football.
Stefan Colakovski celebrates with teammates after scoring in City’s semi-final win over Macarthur.Credit: Getty Images
An equally keen observer will be group chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak, the key figure in the UAE group who bought Manchester City for $US212 million in 2008 and then invested $US1.8 billion in the club and its subordinates over the next 12 years, making it the most powerful soccer group in the world. It is now valued at over $US4 billion.
The links between the parent club and the Down Under branch are strong, says Melbourne City’s director of football Michael Petrillo, a frequent traveller between Manchester and Melbourne, although direct contact between Guardiola and the club is only on special occasions.
“We know Pep takes a keen interest and watches the games. He sent us a message last year before the final and he will be sending another message this year, as will Brian and Khaldoon. So will Noel Gallagher [the former leader of rock band Oasis] who is a keen Manchester City supporter,” Petrillo said.
Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo, with Sydney FC coach Steve Corica, at an A-League grand final event at AAMI Park on Saturday.Credit: Getty Images
“I got a message straight after the semi-final win from Txiki, who congratulated us on the achievement of making the final and the football we play. For the football director of Manchester City to go out of his way to send several messages shows that they do genuinely care about what we are doing here.
“Txiki talks about the tactics. He has been really complimentary, particularly this year, winning with the type of football we have played.”
By the numbers
- Sydney are in their eighth grand final (won six), City in their second (lost one).
- It is the first rematch between the same two clubs in consecutive seasons. Sydney won 1-0 last year after extra time.
- Head to head: Played 32; Sydney 13, City 9, draws 10
- Sydney defender Alex Wilkinson is set to play in his seventh grand final
- This season: Melbourne City 3-2 Sydney; Sydney 1-1 Melbourne City
Guardiola might not talk with Melbourne City coach Patrick Kisnorbo, but his message, influence and philosophy of how the game should be played have flowed through to Kisnorbo, the first-year coach who was last week named the A-League’s 2020-21 coach of the year.
City’s Rostyn Griffiths, Tom Glover and Nuno Reis enjoy the moment of the semi-final win.Credit: Getty Images
“Paddy was able to spend a little bit of time in New York [at the group’s Major League Soccer franchise], but also was able to spend time in Manchester in the early days of his coaching development,” Petrillo said.
“When Pep was here in Melbourne he would go out of his way to come and visit us, and I know he is always watching our games. He was on holiday [in Australia] with his family a few years ago and he decided to make a trip specifically to Melbourne because there was interest in what we were doing.
“We have a very close relationship not only with Brian Marwood but with Txiki Begiristain ... We speak regularly about football, about the style of play and other things.
“Having access to what Pep is doing over in Manchester through the coach educators is fantastic; we are able to tap into a lot of that information and we have close relationships with them all.
“Khaldoon, the chairman watches all of our games. He will be watching again on the weekend.”
Kisnorbo has been part of the City Group’s development program since he stopped playing and has come through the ranks in Melbourne, coaching the youth academy, the women’s team to a W-League championship and assisting Warren Joyce and Erick Mombaerts before becoming head coach this season.
His education started early. “Paddy spent a few weeks in New York with Patrick Viera [the former Arsenal and France captain] when he was the coach, watching what Patrick was doing. He was also able to spend some time in Manchester with the coach educator who was there previously, Pedro Marques, who is now [technical director] with [Portuguese club] Benfica,” said Petrillo.
Marques has previously visited Melbourne, helping coaches and technical staff explain the principles behind the attacking style that Guardiola and his team in Manchester have offered as a template for the rest of the group.
“He [Marques] was responsible for putting together the CFG methodology and the style of play the CFG group likes to see played within its clubs,” Petrillo said.
“Paddy has had great opportunities to learn and develop that he wouldn’t be able to get anywhere else, certainly in Australia because they take a keen interest in what we are doing and we are very closely linked.”
Manchester City’s head coach Pep Guardiola.Credit: AP
An attacking, entertaining style is crucial to City’s future plans. Despite the financial backing and support from the City group after taking over the poorly supported Melbourne Heart and transforming it into Melbourne City, the club has yet to build a sizeable fan base.
“It’s important to us that we play with style and attacking flair and that we entertain people. We want them to come to games because they enjoy watching the type of football we play,” Petrillo says.
“It’s really important that we establish that sort of identity ... Hopefully we can turn the dial and get fans coming through the turnstiles.”
The match within the match
Will Sydney’s absentees in defence hurt them all over the pitch?
The Socceroos’ recent World Cup qualifiers in Kuwait have wreaked havoc with the plans of coaches Patrick Kisnorbo (City) and Steve Corica (Sydney), with both clubs losing three key players from their finals campaign. The big question is who will be hampered most.
Sydney’s losses all come in the back line, with goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne, right back Rhyan Grant and centre-back Ryan McGowan all missing the grand final because they are in quarantine after returning from the Middle East. Their replacements will be Tom Hewart Bell in goal, Paulo Retre and Ben Warland.
Melbourne City and .... Pep Guardiola, Noel Gallagher and Khaldoon Al Mubarak. Credit: The Age
City’s absentees are arguably more grievous. Jamie Maclaren is the league’s top goal-scorer and best penalty box predator, while Connor Metcalfe, despite his youth, is one of the competition’s best midfielders. And Curtis Good, the left centre-half, is widely regarded as one of the best in the A-League. Their replacements are younger, less experienced and have still plenty to prove – forwards Marco Tillio and Stefan Colocovski and Olyroo midfielder Aiden O’Neill, who missed much of the season through injury.
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