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Ange Postecoglou is a fascinating character; a fantastic football manager who appears calm in public but behind closed doors is not someone you would want to mess with as an underperforming player.
Last night, Fox Sports broadcast some fascinating footage of the Brisbane Roar coach losing it in the dressing room with his side both at half time and also after a lacklustre showing in their 3-3 draw with Perth Glory.
Never mind that it was ‘Big Wednesday’ or that almost 7000 spectators went home from NIB Stadium thoroughly entertained, Ange was livid because Roar had not played ‘their’ way.
Over the past 18 months or so Brisbane have been the undisputed kings of Australian football and looked to have emerged from a recent slump with a come from behind win over Melbourne Victory last weekend.
However, thanks to a combination of poor decision making, misplaced passes and too much individualism, they were pushed all the way by a Glory side that they had dismantled 4-0 with ease just six weeks ago.
Postecoglou’s post match press conference was a fascinating affair, with not an excuse or a bullshit cliché in sight.
Instead he spoke honestly and frankly about the team’s failings.
“Perth Glory got robbed, to be honest,” he said.
“They deserved to win the game today. We were very, very ordinary and it would’ve been an injustice if we got any more than a point out of it.”
He went on to describe Roar’s showing as “cowardly” and said he would rather finish lower down the ladder playing good football than top of the pile through lacklustre showings.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to Perth,” he continued.
“I thought they were very good tonight. They were desperate. They stuck to their game plan. They caused us problems and from our point of view, we just didn’t stick to any of our principles or beliefs.
“And the human qualities of competitive sport were missing. The desperation, the desire to win, a bit of bravery, a bit of courage.
“Courage means wanting the balls in tricky situations and we were extremely cowardly today in how we approached the game.”
Not once did Postecoglou raise his voice or show emotion but it was clear that the performance hurt, especially after they had appeared to have turned a corner against Victory.
Things don’t get any easier for Brisbane either over the next few weeks with Adelaide United (away), Sydney FC (home) and Melbourne Heart (away) making up their next three fixtures.
Thankfully, talisman Thomas Broich is due back from injury shortly but, as has been stated many times during the German’s absence, Roar isn’t a one man team and it cannot be used as an excuse.
Ange Postecoglou simply wouldn’t allow it.
Last night, Fox Sports broadcast some fascinating footage of the Brisbane Roar coach losing it in the dressing room with his side both at half time and also after a lacklustre showing in their 3-3 draw with Perth Glory.
Never mind that it was ‘Big Wednesday’ or that almost 7000 spectators went home from NIB Stadium thoroughly entertained, Ange was livid because Roar had not played ‘their’ way.
Over the past 18 months or so Brisbane have been the undisputed kings of Australian football and looked to have emerged from a recent slump with a come from behind win over Melbourne Victory last weekend.
However, thanks to a combination of poor decision making, misplaced passes and too much individualism, they were pushed all the way by a Glory side that they had dismantled 4-0 with ease just six weeks ago.
Postecoglou’s post match press conference was a fascinating affair, with not an excuse or a bullshit cliché in sight.
Instead he spoke honestly and frankly about the team’s failings.
“Perth Glory got robbed, to be honest,” he said.
“They deserved to win the game today. We were very, very ordinary and it would’ve been an injustice if we got any more than a point out of it.”
He went on to describe Roar’s showing as “cowardly” and said he would rather finish lower down the ladder playing good football than top of the pile through lacklustre showings.
“I don’t want to be disrespectful to Perth,” he continued.
“I thought they were very good tonight. They were desperate. They stuck to their game plan. They caused us problems and from our point of view, we just didn’t stick to any of our principles or beliefs.
“And the human qualities of competitive sport were missing. The desperation, the desire to win, a bit of bravery, a bit of courage.
“Courage means wanting the balls in tricky situations and we were extremely cowardly today in how we approached the game.”
Not once did Postecoglou raise his voice or show emotion but it was clear that the performance hurt, especially after they had appeared to have turned a corner against Victory.
Things don’t get any easier for Brisbane either over the next few weeks with Adelaide United (away), Sydney FC (home) and Melbourne Heart (away) making up their next three fixtures.
Thankfully, talisman Thomas Broich is due back from injury shortly but, as has been stated many times during the German’s absence, Roar isn’t a one man team and it cannot be used as an excuse.
Ange Postecoglou simply wouldn’t allow it.