The expression on the face of Central Coast Mariners coach Lawrie McKinna told the story.
The Scotsman cut an implacable figure, barely able to hide his fury as he dissected Wednesday’s 5-0 mauling at the hands of Japanese side Kawasaki Frontale in the Asian Champions League at Bluetongue Stadium.
McKinna pulled no punches, labelling the performance “embarrassing” and claimed his side played into the hands of their impressive opponents, who produced one of the finest displays seen by a club side on Australian soil.
“I hope the players are embarrassed, I am embarrassed,” he said.
“It was the worst moment of my coaching career. I will take responsibility, but each player has to look at himself in the mirror. No-one wants to be beaten 5-0,” McKinna said.
“They are a good team, but we kept giving the ball to them. Their movement and timing was outstanding but there is no excuse for trying to pass the ball 10 yards and giving it to somebody else.”
Mariners skipper Alex Wilkinson admitted McKinna made his point to the players in no uncertain terms after the game, but said the coach also stressed the need to move on and not dwell on the defeat.
“It was one of the toughest nights of my career. They played pretty well but we were pretty ordinary,” Wilkinson told AAP.
“He (McKinna) voiced his disappointment in the performance and everyone agreed with that, but he also told everyone to move on an learn from it.
“In two weeks’ time we play them again, but we are still very much in this competition. We are third and we play them again in two weeks in Japan, so there is no point dwelling on it now.
“The Japanese teams are usually the benchmark at this level but against the other two teams we handed ourselves pretty well, but last night nothing went right for us.
“We are usually very good at limiting space and closing down the midfield but we didn’t do that and were made to pay for it.
“We knew they would be a very good side and if you let good teams play you will get hurt and that is what happened.”
Wilkinson refused to admit the result was a huge psychological blow ahead of the return game in Kawasaki but said there were few positives to take from Wednesday.
“If we do what we are good at, then there is no reason why we can’t get something in Japan,” he said.
“We are better than what we showed on Wednesday and there is still all to play for and that is the attitude we will be taking for the rest of the tournament.”
Vicentin
Guest
Have to agree with midfield general, Lawrie seems like a really nice guy but lacks the imagination or the courage to play any "risky, creative players" in his starting eleven - Gumprecht (and Elrich) on late the other night, Cacares often on the bench etc. Seems to me the main criteria to get in that team is to be at least six foot two and anglo. Nice guy and I know there is all this talk about the Mariners and their coach playing in the style of the their supporters but really football in Australia deserves more. The club is clearly fantastically run off the field - academies and all, but I don't see the point if what they're putting in shop window is so past it's use by date. Rancid football the other night - they should be ashamed.
midfield general
Guest
Laurie is a great guy, but he has reached the limit of what he can achieve as a coach. CCM has been in decline and at times they've been awful to watch during the HAL season as well.... They really play like a lower tier team from UK, and that won't cut it even in our domestic comp. Maybe they need to take Sydney's lead and look at continental Europe, or even South America for coaching. Ernie Merrick is Scottish as well, but he seem to have a higher football IQ and his team continue to evolve. He's not afraid to look at South Americans and play to their strength, while Lawrie goes for guys like Shane Hukes, who couldn't cut it in the third or fourth tier in England.