Sydney FC boss John Kosmina hopes a two-week break will help improve his club’s injury woes, while the media and opposing coaches will hope it lightens up the volatile mentor.
Kosmina admitted he had been cranky throughout last week after his team squandered a three-goal lead against Central Coast.
Last night’s 2-1 home loss to Wellington did nothing to improve his demeanour.
He clashed with Phoenix coach Ricky Herbert after the game and with some members of the media during and after a prickly post-match press conference.
Herbert took offence to Kosmina’s attitude after the Sydney coach told him the late penalty awarded to the visitors was a lucky decision.
Herbert had to be pulled away by one of his assistants and said he was disappointed by Kosmina’s remark.
Phoenix are believed to be exploring the possibility of lodging a report on the incident with the FFA.
Kosmina clashed with an internet site representative at the press conference and after it finished took a Sydney print journalist to one side to register his displeasure at something the scribe had written.
The loss meant Sydney have picked up just two points from their last three games.
Yesterday’s dropped points denied Sydney a share and possibly even outright ownership of the competition lead.
The club is still labouring under the handicap of a lengthy injury list which has deprived them of several key players, including Simon Colosimo, Mike Enfield, Adam Casey, Robbie Middleby, Jacob Timpano and Brendon Santalab.
Other influential players, including captain Tony Popovic, John Aloisi, Clint Bolton and Ian Fyfe, are still short of full fitness.
Kosmina expects the break leading up to Sydney’s next game away to Adelaide on November 22 will enable some of his injured and unfit players to work on their fitness.
“It will help us get people fit, or fitter,” Kosmina said.
“Poppa (Popovic) is not 100 per cent and I think he would be the first to admit that.
“Johnny (Aloisi) needs a little bit more work put into him.
“It will give us the chance to get Robbie Middleby back on deck.”
Kosmina believed his rookie defenders Anthony Golec and Beau Busch were still possibly suffering from head knocks collected over the last fortnight in addition to still coming to terms with allowing Central Coast to steal a point last week.
Kosmina described Sydney’s performance last night as their worst of the season, though he felt they did play well in patches.
Herbert who described Kosmina’s comment about the penalty decision as “disrespectful”, praised his side for pressuring Sydney and never allowing them to settle.
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