Littbarski warns of underestimating the Mariners

Sydney FC coach Pierre Littbarski believes talk surrounding the Central Coasts Mariners’ qualification for the A-league Grand Final suggesting “fairytales” and “over achievement” are misguided and shows a lack of respect to the Mariners ahead of Sunday’s decider.

Littbarski, who was in Adelaide watching the Preliminary Final, believes the Central Coast is a strong opponent, which has gone 12 straight games without defeat and has now made all three Finals since the A-League teams hit the field last May.

The Mariners went down 1-0 to Sydney FC in the final of the Club World Championship Australian Qualifying Tournament in May 2005 and also took out the Pre Season Cup, defeating Perth Glory in August.

“People who are talking about fairytales and how the Mariners are lucky have not seen them play this year,” Littbarski said.

“They are a good side and a fairytale is not good enough to get you into a final. Playing good soccer does that and the Mariners have played well.

“We beat them 1-0 in the (Club) World Championships final and they won the Pre-Season Tournament. These things don’t happen to teams who can’t play well.

“The Central Coast has beaten a lot of injuries and they deserve their place. We won’t be making the same mistakes a lot of people are making today by showing no respect. We know we will have a very tough game and we are getting ready for a very tough final.”

Sydney FC and the Central Coast Mariners go into Sunday’s A-league Grand Final on level footing after three A-League matches this season.

The Mariners took out the first game, a 3-2 victory in wet and windy conditions at Aussie Stadium last September before Sydney FC turned the result around with a 5-1 thumping against a 10-man Mariners side in Gosford.

The most recent match saw the teams fight out a 1-1 draw at Aussie Stadium last month.