Coolen backed by Gold Coast United's Bleiberg

Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg has hit back at critics of Rini Coolen, showing support for his embattled colleague after inflicting Adelaide’s sixth loss of the season.

After seeing his team outclass the Reds 3-0 away from home, Bleiberg said Adelaide’s fans should show patience with the Dutch tactician.

“I know Luc [Adelaide’s Assistant Manager] and I know Rini and there’s no way they aren’t preparing the team or not doing the right thing,” he said.

“At the end of the day you don’t become a coach in the A-League if you don’t know your trade so all these people in the terraces that think they know better than the coach, it’s not fair.”

Gold Coast’s victory was their first since the end of October but Bleiberg felt the low confidence of both sides meant the match could’ve gone either way.

“It’s not that we were much better than Adelaide, I think both teams are on the bottom for a reason. One of the reasons is when you lose you start to lose confidence so every player, instead of playing 110 per cent of his ability is playing at 60 or 70 per cent.”

Despite having taken just two points from their past four matches, Bleiberg was optimistic about Adelaide’s chances next week as they take on the Sky Blues away from home.

“If I was allowed to gamble I would gamble that Adelaide would beat Sydney next week,” Bleiberg said.