A disappointed Ange Postecoglou said he shoulders the responsibility for Saturday night’s loss to Central Coast Mariners with the Brisbane Roar coach vowing to make it right ahead of next week’s Boxing Day showdown with Gold Coast United.
A disappointed Ange Postecoglou said he shoulders the responsibility for Saturday night-s loss to Central Coast Mariners with the Brisbane Roar coach vowing to make it right ahead of next week-s Boxing Day showdown with Gold Coast United.
The 2-1 result at Suncorp Stadium was Brisbane-s fourth successive defeat, all coming within the span of 13 days, meaning the current Hyundai A-League champions have slipped off the top of the competition ladder and now sit three points behind the Mariners having played once more than their Gosford-based opponents.
After a hectic two-week schedule which included a 10-hour return trip from Dunedin just 48 hours before facing the in-form Central Coast, Postecoglou admitted to a misjudgement in his usually faultless player-management approach.
“It-s my responsibility and the club-s responsibility to look after the welfare of the players and I just thought on Saturday night we didn-t do that,” Postecoglou said.
“I was really disappointed in myself after the game because of that.
“The boys were gone at half-time to be honest.
“We had a ridiculously scheduled week, we got off a plane on 10pm Thursday night and had to front up 48 hours later with the same players.
“I-m disappointed in myself because we should have put out a different team to be honest.”
The eight-day break ahead of next Monday-s clash with their fiercest rivals has been wholeheartedly welcomed by Postecoglou and his coaching staff with the players enjoying two days off the training track before business as usual resumes on Wednesday.
“It-ll also give these guys who-ve had such a punishing schedule to rest their bodies and have a bit of a break,” he said.
“By the time the Gold Coast game comes around, we should be fine.”
The former South Melbourne man was unsure whether all four of the squad-s injured players – Thomas Broich, Matt Smith, James Meyer and Henrique – would be fit to face Miron Bleiberg-s resurgent United side but was hopeful the break would also prove beneficial in each of their bids for full fitness.
“They-re all pretty close and they-re all a shot for Gold Coast,” Postecoglou said.
“I doubt that all four would make it but we-d expect at least a couple of them to be right.”
