Melbourne Victory coach Grant Brebner is unsure if he’ll still be in a job next week after his side’s “humiliating” derby defeat to Melbourne City seemingly put his tenure on the brink.
Victory were ripped to pieces in a record 6-0 rout at Marvel Stadium on Saturday night, which left them languishing at the foot of the table.
A finals place is not even in consideration this season for a club that won their fourth A-League championship less than three years ago and have been on a steady decline since.
Victory released a pressure valve with a win over Wellington on February 24, but have since suffered heartbreaking and embarrassing derby defeats to Western United (4-3) and City respectively in successive weeks.
The results have come against the backdrop of foundation shareholder Richard Wilson falling out with the Victory board and putting his 16 per cent stake in the club up for sale.
Victory next host Adelaide United, with first-year coach Brebner unable to confirm during Saturday night’s post mortem if he’ll retain his post for that fixture.
“I don’t really want to think that far ahead just now,” he said.
“I’m still looking at thinking about that 90 minutes and, emotionally, it’s a tough one.”
Asked if he actually wants to stay on as coach, Brebner said: “I love this football club.
“I’ve been involved in this football club for 15, 16 years and I want what’s best for this football club.
“And to get drawn on any questions like that at the moment, I’m not going to get involved in it.
Brebner, a midfielder during Victory’s trophy-laden early years, said the club’s board and management had always given support to their head coach.
However, he also conceded the “reality” is that the finger will likely be pointed at the coach when results aren’t as expected.
“I understand that players need to do better and they need to deliver more, but I’m the head coach and I take responsibility for results like that,” Brebner said.
Brebner is “absolutely certain” his players are collectively still behind him and refused to blame individuals for the error-riddled performance against City.
“I think they were pulling in the right direction, I just think there were some players that got a little bit of an eye-opener about what it’s like to play in the A-League against some very good Melbourne City players,” Brebner said.
“We look at the opportunity to get some young lads in there and maybe tonight we bit off more than we could chew with asking them to back up repeatedly when they’ve done so well in previous games.”
AndyAdelaide
Roar Rookie
Rubbish UK players and coaching set up. So's muscat, poppas or kewell
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
If you look ar MV's performing years usually they relied on two factors. Grant Bebner was one of MV's water carriers in his first season alongside Fred, and then he became an older liability. Barbarouses was a water carrier for MV played more like a wing back than a winger as Archie Thompson would just hang on the last man waiting for a turnover when he played on the opposite wing . Antonis came into a lazy MV midfield and was able to turn around their season around with high work rate in addition his quality. This current team hasn't even got a cordial cup carrier, they do have a lot of older liabilities . If you look at MV titles they usually relied on some strategic hacking as well. Muscats taking out of Diego with no yellow card that made Aloisi turn feral and get two yellow cards with lesser challenges, the hack job on Sydney FC's Serbian midfielders by Valeri,Milligan and co. They are currently very soft physically as well. The two things Brebner was best at his team is totally lacking in.
Rodger King
Roar Rookie
Don't sack him just yet, leave it until after the Adelaide game.
MarkfromCroydon
Roar Pro
Brebs has to go. He is not up to the job. The board also needs to take a look at themselves for hiring him and for not getting an experienced manager with a proven track record of achievement.
forevervictory
Roar Rookie
I feel for Brebner..I don’t think he’s signing are all that bad, they’ve obviously showed glimpses. He’s been smashed with injuries..(but other teams do aswell) but it as though the signings haven’t fully committed to Australian football yet? (Homesickness, lifestyle change, league, grounds etc) I‘m more annoyed with Broxam, he just doesn’t know how to be a leader when things are down on the park..not aggressive enough. If Brebner could get another really experience defender central defender..and the midfield (kruse, Brimmer, Butterfield) lift their game results could change.
pete4
Guest
You feel for Brebner in the post match presser some of his signings have worked out like he hoped Muscat, Popovic or Aloisi will probably be announced before Adelaide match you'd think
A League is Awesome
Guest
Keep the coach. Sack the Chairman. That's the only thing that hasn't been tried. Maybe than Victory will invest into the Club by building a Training Area etc like Western United and City. Is it a coincidence that no new investments are going into Victory and they have fallen off the pace?