It was a Melbourne Derby to forget for Melbourne City FC and Head Coach John van’t Schip as the Dutchman admitted his side has a lot to improve on.
After going down 3-0 to their close rival, van’t Schip felt his men didn’t play to their strengths in the third Melbourne Derby of the season.
“I don’t think we turned up in a way that we wanted to and we gave away cheap goals as well,” van’t Schip reflected post match.
“To give goals away like that, it’s hard to win a game of course.
“All three goals were (from our mistakes) and I think in general, that was the story of the game. We had to chase the game, we tried but we were just flat, we weren’t pressing, we weren’t aggressive enough and we were just too stretched at moments.
“Overall it was not good. We have to bounce back, we have to stay positive. Coming from a good period where we got good results, this wasn’t one of them and we have to bounce back in the coming weeks.”
With a tough month ahead for Melbourne City FC, the matches do not get any easier – with an away trip to Wellington up next.
But van’t Schip admits that the fluctuating form of the league means his side will need to regroup and put in a strong performance against the Phoenix.
“For us, its game by game. This is a very strange league,” van’t Schip said.
“Winning and losing is very close and stranger things have happened. But we just have to work because the race (to the finals) is starting now and we have to make sure we are there.
“We should challenge every team and we will look to challenge the next match and that’s Wellington.
“I think the last game we played there we had a very poor match and they really punished us so for us, it’s important we bounce back and we show them that we can really play a game against them.”
Melbourne City FC will look to bounce back against the Phoenix this Saturday afternoon. van’t Schip’s men will face the Phoenix at Hutt Recreational Ground, kick-off 3pm AEDT.
