Mickaël Tavares is relishing a run of home games

Central Coast Mariners’ midfielder Mickaël Tavares says that Gosford won’t be an easy place for travelling teams to take points this season ahead of the Yellow & Navy’s next home match against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Central Coast Mariners’ midfielder Mickaël Tavares says that Gosford won’t be an easy place for travelling teams to take points this season ahead of the Yellow & Navy’s next home match against the Western Sydney Wanderers.

Speaking to media after the club’s win at home against Perth Glory, Tavares credited the morale in the Mariners’ squad heading into Saturday’s tantalising match up against the Wanderers.

Have you purchased your ticket for this Saturday’s match against the Western Sydney Wanderers? Tickets are selling fast so CLICK HERE to pre-purchase to save money and beat the queues. 

“The morale in the squad is good right now,” Tavares said. “It’s always good to win it makes the week easier so hopefully we can continue that this week.

“The spirit in the team is very good, all the boys are helping each other and you can see on the pitch week after week we’re improving.

‘We’re playing with a new system now with two players in front of me which gives me a little more freedom and I think that’s why I’m enjoying my football a bit more,” Tavares said.

Despite being one of the most experienced players in the Mariners’ line up, the former Middlesbrough man says that he likes to do most of his talking on the pitch. Boasting one of the best passing accuracies in the league, Tavares said that was all a part of his job.

“I like to talk a lot on the pitch, off the pitch I’m one of the quiet ones but on the pitch I try to help the young players as much as I can because communication is very important.

“To be honest I don’t look at statistics – that’s the type of game that I play, I like to get touches on the ball and when the players around me are moving well it makes that easier,” Tavares.

Saturday evening at Central Coast Stadium will see one of our biggest home crowds of the season in attendance and the 34-year-old midfielder said that playing in front of a vocal crowd will help motivate the Mariners and reminded people that they have only played two out of their eight games at Gosford.

“We are really looking forward to this Saturday,” Tavares said. “It’s always good when people come out to see you play because you are more motivated and at home you feel stronger so that will help us a lot this weekend.

“This weekend will be great for the fans, for the club and everyone with a big crowd.

“People forget that we only had one game at Gosford in the first seven rounds so it was a bit tough for us but now we are looking forward to a good run at home and other teams should understand that it’s not going to be easy to come here and take points.

“It’s always easier to play at home, the day before the game you are sleeping in your own bed, you don’t have to travel and you’re feeling fresh.

“It’s always good to have a longer turnaround, we’ve had a chance to freshen up the mind and the body but we are now focussed on Saturday’s game which is easier after a good week,” Tavares said. 

Match Details
Hyundai A-League 2016/17 – Round 9
Saturday 3 December 2016
Central Coast Mariners vs. Western Sydney Wanderers
Venue: Central Coast Stadium, Gosford  
kick-off: 5:35pm (AEDT)
Tickets: CLICK HERE
Official hash-tags: #CCMvWSW & #CCMFC
TV Broadcast: Fox Sports 505
Radio Broadcast: 96.3 Coast FM