The Roar's A-League Men tips and predictions: Round 26 - the jostle for finals positions is on in earnest
Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
Western Sydney coach Markus Babbel has told his players to stop playing too nice if they want to avoid their fourth straight loss and claim their first win in seven games against Adelaide.
The Wanderers are lingering in eighth place with just nine points at the halfway point of the A-League season, having secured only two wins in their opening 13 games.
They blew a golden opportunity to reverse their streak against ladder-leaders Perth last week, after leading 2-0 in the second half before being beaten 4-3.
And Babbel said his players needed to be more ruthless to take their chances against Adelaide on Friday night.
“We are too nice,” Babbel told reporters.
“We have four girls at home and everyone can marry them because they are all nice fellas but our mentality on the pitch – if the chance is there then take it.
“Because if we don’t take it the other team will.
“Very nice guys here, let them in the changing rooms but bring the dirty one on the pitch. That’s what they have to learn.”
Friday’s clash with the Reds is a significant one in the mid-table battle for finals spots.
Sixth-placed Adelaide United are already 10 points clear of the Wanderers, and a Reds win would leave the Wanderers 13 points back on the last finals-playing position.
A star of German and European football in the late 20th century as a player, Babbel admitted the Wanderers’ struggles had presented a new challenge to him in his first year as coach of the club.
“It is a learning process for me because I haven’t had it before,” Babbel said.
“As a player we took these chances. Now I have to think about what a player thinks that never had this experience before.
“We have a big chance to win a game so that is the most important thing.”
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Here is the way the Roar expert panel sees all the action unfolding across the final weekend of play prior to the semi-finals.
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