Steve Corica admits suffering nerves before his A-League head coaching debut.
But he reckons it's now rival clubs that should be anxious after watching his talent-laden Sydney FC take a 1-1 away draw against Adelaide United on Friday night.
"I'm pleased with the way we played, and the character of the boys": Steve Corica.Credit:AAP
"I was more nervous than even in the semi-final of the (FFA) Cup," Corica said.
"It's the A-League, first game of the season, everyone is watching.
"We wanted to get off to a winning start. Unfortunately we didn't do that but I'm pleased with the way we played, and the character of the boys.
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"They know how to get goals at vital times."
English recruit Adam le Fondre slotted a second-half equaliser from close-range after Adelaide's Scott Galloway scored a screamer from 15 metres just before halftime.
Le Fondre showed touches of class, as did Dutchmen Siem de Jong, and Jop van der Linden in their A-League debuts for the Sky Blues.
"They were good," Corica said.
"They're going to get better and we expect to get better as the season goes along.
"They look very fit. We we ran over the top of them (Adelaide), especially in the second half.
"We were maybe a little bit unlucky not to get the second goal but we were pushing forward late on."
Adelaide coach Marco Kurz was also encouraged by his side's display – the Reds controlled large chunks of the game with high-pressing tactics.
But the Sky Blues struck with a clinical precision which pleased counterpart Corica.
"They (opponents) know what kind of quality we have, you only have to give us one chance and we take it," he said.
"They pressed us up high and it's difficult to do that for 95 minutes, so sooner or later the game has to get stretched.
"And it did in the second half and the gaps started to open up and we started to find more space."
Corica now turns his attention to home-town rivals Western Sydney Wanderers at the SCG next Saturday night, before a rematch with Adelaide in the FFA Cup final the following Tuesday.
"The Cup is important of course, there's a trophy up for grabs," he said.
"But we have a massive game next week against the Wanderers so that will be the main focus."
AAP
