Melbourne City will not become A-League champions unless they switch on from the start in games, coach John Van’t Schip says.
City were 2-0 down against Wellington Phoenix after 15 minutes on Friday and, despite grabbing a goal back and regaining control, the match fell to the lowly hosts 2-1.
“If you really want to become that team … we need to improve and get better and make sure that we are there at the end,” Van’t Schip said.
“By the time we woke up they were 2-0 up,” he said.
“We were fighting too much against the circumstances instead of playing good football because we were not there from the start.”
The home side staged a determined rearguard effort, marshalled by captain Andrew Durante playing his 200th game, to deny City any points despite claims for a penalty in the second half.
“For me it looked clear cut,” he said of the tangle that Durante got in with Bruno Fornarolli.
Van’t Schip also took issue with more of New Zealand referee Matt Conger’s decisions in a scrappy game played in difficult blustery conditions at the Westpac Stadium.
“I think if you look back then everybody will see very clearly that we didn’t get anything awarded from the referee.
“I think that was the frustration – not taking away that we had a poor start – but we certainly didn’t get any help.
“It becomes difficult if you have to play against that as well.”
Fornarolli had a chance to level matters in the first half, but Phoenix keeper Glenn Moss did well to deny him and Aaron Mooy, who grabbed City’s goal via a deflected free kick, and hit the crossbar with a set piece after the interval.
City stay fourth after the result and will remain there after the round regardless of the outcome of the result between Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC on Saturday.
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