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Mariners declare title intent - EXCLUSIVE - Philip Micallef
Leaders Central Coast Mariners have chosen the week before their grudge match with Sydney FC to do away with "political correctness" and declared themselves the logical team to win the A-League.
The Mariners go in to the rescheduled match with their NSW rivals on Saturday night with a three-point advantage over nearest rivals Queensland Roar.
Victory at Bluetongue Stadium, over the team that beat them 1-0 in the first grand final in 2006, would strike a psychological blow to all the other contenders, usually reticent coach Lawre McKinna said after training at The Entrance.
"The championship is there to be won," he declared.
"If we were to lose it from here, yes, it would be a very big disappointment for all of us."
"We've done enough so far to believe we can go on and win the premiership."
Former Sydney hero Sasho Petrovski said his partnership with fellow striker John Aloisi was blossoming and that meant bad news for Sydney on Saturday.
"The arrival of John has eased the pressure on me to score and we have started to gel and hit our straps," Petrovski said.
"It's not just Sydney (who should be worried) but everybody else."
"It's all about mentality now. Lawrie has got us believing in our ability. So we would be hugely disappointed if we did not get on with the job from here."
Mariners declare title intent - EXCLUSIVE - Philip Micallef
Leaders Central Coast Mariners have chosen the week before their grudge match with Sydney FC to do away with "political correctness" and declared themselves the logical team to win the A-League.
The Mariners go in to the rescheduled match with their NSW rivals on Saturday night with a three-point advantage over nearest rivals Queensland Roar.
Victory at Bluetongue Stadium, over the team that beat them 1-0 in the first grand final in 2006, would strike a psychological blow to all the other contenders, usually reticent coach Lawre McKinna said after training at The Entrance.
"The championship is there to be won," he declared.
"If we were to lose it from here, yes, it would be a very big disappointment for all of us."
"We've done enough so far to believe we can go on and win the premiership."
Former Sydney hero Sasho Petrovski said his partnership with fellow striker John Aloisi was blossoming and that meant bad news for Sydney on Saturday.
"The arrival of John has eased the pressure on me to score and we have started to gel and hit our straps," Petrovski said.
"It's not just Sydney (who should be worried) but everybody else."
"It's all about mentality now. Lawrie has got us believing in our ability. So we would be hugely disappointed if we did not get on with the job from here."