Despite yet another largely dispirited showing from his side in a 2-0 loss in Perth on Saturday night, Gold Coast United coach Miron Bleiberg is not feeling the pressure.
Gold Coast remains anchored to the bottom of the A-League table after a 2-0 loss to the Glory, who had lost four of their past five games.
The manner of the loss was as alarming as the score. United handed the hosts the win – literally.
There were two avoidable penalties, with Zach Anderson’s 19th minute blunder the most baffling.
With no opponent near him, Anderson put both hands up in the air and the ball did nothing but bang straight into his outstretched arms.
For Bleiberg that summed up the problems of having a young and inexperienced team.
But despite his charges’ sixth loss for the season, Bleiberg isn’t concerned about his job security – largely because owner Clive Palmer played a hand in constructing the team.
“We are paying the price obviously for going with young players and there are no miracles, but that’s the decisions of the club,” Bleiberg said.
“I am employed by the club and if Clive decides to go with the youngsters, I don’t tell him no. That’s life and we are going with the youngsters.
“Every few years as a coach you have a year where nothing works for you. This is my year but how the year is ending or whatever, there is no pressure because I am talking to Clive.
“That’s it. Life is as normal. In my case, I think it is an irrelevant question at the moment.
“Do I want to continue to work with these youngsters? Yes.
“Do I believe that we can turn the corner? I believe that we can do it this year.
“There’s no pressure, nothing.”
Bleiberg restrained himself from blasting Anderson, who compounded his mistake with a careless challenge in the 62nd minute on Glory’s Andrezinho to earn his second yellow card.
“It was the most obvious penalty you can ever see,” Bleiberg said.
“I think maybe he thought he played for Fremantle Aussie Rules. Honestly it was strange, but that’s it.
“Zach didn’t play bad. (But) him not playing bad still cost a red card and penalty.
“So what can you do, do you shoot him? No. I’m not abusing him or throwing a vacuum cleaner or bottle at him. If I scream at him, it makes him think about my scream. Instead let it eat it from himself inside and he won’t do it anymore. That’s my philosophy and psychology.”
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