‘Too much’ of a gap for Sydney’s liking

Sydney FC star Patryk Klimala says nine points is already “too much” of a gap between the inconsistent Sky Blues and A-League leaders Auckland FC.

Despite being tipped by many to win the title this season, Sydney has been hot and cold, winning three and losing three heading into Saturday’s clash against Western United at Allianz Stadium.

Among the teams to have beaten this season are competition newcomers Auckland, who have a perfect record of 18 points from six matches ahead of their visit to AAMI Park on Sunday to meet Melbourne City.

“We need to improve a lot of things on the field because now we have nine points between us and the top, and this is too much,” Polish marksman Klimala said.

“We can create more chances, we can be in better positions, we can make better passes, better decisions … and sometimes in front of goal we are maybe trying too hard and are too nervous in the right moment.

“We need to relax in the head, and just focus on what we need to do.”

Also not helping the Sky Blues has been their poor discipline, with three players – midfielder Max Burgess, defender Hayden Matthews and goalkeeper Harrison Devenish-Meares – already having been sent off in A-League matches this season.

Klimala admitted being reduced to 10 men after Devenish-Meares’ first-half dismissal in Sydney’s 2-1 loss to Central Coast last Sunday hurt his team.

“After the red card it was hard to press, and when we did it, Central Coast played very easy against us,” he said.

While Sydney is yet to fully fire, Klimala’s own form has been impressive, with the former Celtic attacker having scored seven goals in 11 appearances in all competitions for the Sky Blues.

“The team have created plenty of chances for me and they are really good to me. I feel an important part of this team,” he said.

Should Sydney lose to Western United, it will open the door for arch-rivals Western Sydney Wanderers to jump above them on the ladder if they beat cellar dwellers Brisbane Roar at CommBank Stadium on Brisbane Roar.

Wanderers coach Alen Stajcic believed Brisbane had been “playing really well” despite being last on the ladder with just one point from six matches.

“Brisbane are a little bit of a conundrum,” Stajcic said.

“Like a lot of teams, they’ve had good moments in games, and poor moments in games, but they’re good moments are very good.

“They certainly pose a lot of attacking threat … and are certainly not a team to be under-estimated.”