Under-pressure Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan has failed to front up for his post-match press conference after a 7-0 thrashing from Melbourne City, the heaviest defeat in the club’s history.
Aurelio Vidmar’s charges inflicted further pain and misery on Western Sydney with an extraordinary blitz at AAMI Park, taking a 4-0 lead at half-time then rubbing salt in the wound in the second half.
A Wanderers spokesperson on Tuesday night confirmed Rudan, who is contracted until the end of the 2026-27 season, is still employed.
The club’s bizarre official line was that assistant coach Jean-Paul de Marigny attended the press conference instead because Rudan was in a team meeting.
When asked why Rudan wasn’t there, de Marigny said: “It’s pretty simple. I’m here now to ask (sic) questions.
“I don’t think that’s (Rudan’s whereabouts) irrelevant (sic) at this stage.
“So ask me questions. That’ll be good. Let’s speak about the game.”
De Marigny, who was Wanderers caretaker coach for seven games in 2020, then five games as full-time coach before being sacked, also confirmed Rudan wasn’t unwell.
“I’ve already moved on from that. It’s great that you’ve got a lot of empathy, which is nice. He’s fine,” he said.
“I’ve got no comment about that. I’m here to answer questions about the game.
“So if you’ve got that, I’ll respond to it. If you don’t have it, I’ll move on.”
De Marigny was evasive when asked if the team was at rock bottom and bristled at the suggestion their players’ heads had dropped.
Since returning from his two-match suspension for his tirade against referees, Rudan has overseen three games – and the Wanderers have lost all three, shipping 14 goals.
Former Wanderer Terry Antonis completed the rout with an incredible strike from just inside the centre circle in the 82nd minute, knocking the ball over a player’s head then smacking a half-volley into the net.
Antonis, who was frozen out at Western Sydney last season, made a beeline for the Wanderers bench and made a ‘call me’ gesture to his former coach.
“You might as well give him goal of the season for sure. It’d be very hard to top I’d say,” Vidmar said.
“And happy for him. He had, as we all know, a pretty tough season last year.
“… He probably couldn’t have scripted it any better than that.
“He was probably dreaming last night of coming on and scoring and that’s exactly what he did.”
A ruthless 13 minutes, where the wonderful Tolgay Arslan scored twice and Leo Natel and Max Caputo also netted gave City an insurmountable 4-0 lead by half-time.
It prompted Rudan to hook five players at half-time – the first time it has happened in the league.
Nuno Reis headed home a fifth in the 73rd minute, while Jamie Maclaren, who was benched for Caputo for a second consecutive game, ended his 10-game scoring drought four minutes later.
Then Antonis rubbed salt in the wound.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The talent pool? Talk about ludicrous theories, how many players have been sold from the academy, the club gets its player from Sydney FC mostly. The Wanderers could actually make a quid because they do sell a decent number of memberships and they have the derby and if they actually concentrated on youth and the academy. The problem is all the expensive foreign players take away any potential profit and the club must be losing money. Now Rudan has your club by the balls they fell for his conspiracy theory and gave him a three year deal. This is not how to make money its how to lose money,
fabian gulino
Roar Rookie
Wow will lose against Perth glory and Marco Rudan will lose it again big time and get red carded. He will get sacked on Sunday morning. The WSW aren't a bad side it's the way they are coached. They look very tired and disorientated and don't want to play under Rudan anymore. They want the shackles to come off and play with more freedom and style of Attacking football.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Grem, I can’t really say with any great certainty but I think we are able to look beyond the playing field and results and get the feel of a club and how well run it is; what values there are, what the rapport is like with fans….essentially what are the core values? If you build a club from ground zero, there needs to be reasons for people to follow and support the club. I know we talk a lot on here about loyalty and sticking with clubs through good and bad but that really only goes for results - not the club as a whole. SFC have turned things around. At last there is a recognition that some youth players will become good players but need game time and opportunities and they are getting them. Mr Talay appears to be a few notches above his predecessor, maintaining Courtney vine in the women’s team has been a blessing and the new stadium is very good which all adds up to an attractive proposition and somewhere to attend these days although it was hugely disappointing to go to the WWC last year - but not just there. The food and drink choices were woeful compared to what is available at A League and NRL - but that’s a minor point.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Rudan should resign and goes back to study. For instance, Ange was very severely critized by “The World Game”. Craig Foster led that. Ange resigned from the coaching of junior Socceroos subsequently/consequently to study in coaching (A Licence). We can see now that he is the most successful Australian coach. As for Rudan, he should study “Human Relationship”, “Emotional Control” and “Team Management”. Either resign or mutual contract dissolving agreement.
coolncold
Roar Rookie
Still, "8-1 loss" is a record in A-League.
JoshW
Roar Rookie
The club has 4 owners but you would have only ever seen 1 of them on the field berating a referee. He's from Point Piper, what he sees when he looks at WSW and what I see are 2 different things. Many of us believe he only ever bought the club to take advantage of the talent pool, selling players to Europe - increasing the value of his investment. Success, memberships, crowd averages etc are all irrelevant. It's about the Academy and nothing more.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
2,182, unbelievable that two top 6 teams could draw that.
Grem
Roar Rookie
Are you talking the CEO, Paul Lederer or others? Wouldn’t it be hard to replace a billionaire such as Lederer - billionaires who finance Australian football are hard to find. There’s speculation (may be nothing in it) about a return of Popovic - would that help?
Lionheart
Roar Rookie
we did put 5 away next time we met, begging them to mention that last night
ShirleyKnot
Roar Rookie
Please note, WSW fans & members do not consider themselves 'victims'. Far from it. Yes, the quality of the referee decisions could improve & yes we have been on the receiving end of some shockers but that is no excuse for such a poor performance. Our last three matches were just rubbish. No excuses. I think that Rudan should do the honourable thing & resign. His ridiculous tirades were just embarrassing & does not do the people of Western Sydney justice. Perhaps if he goes now WSW can somehow regain composure on the pitch & save our season. Otherwise, methinks we shall make an ugly slide down the ladder.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t have put it better. The club was a great place to belong to in the early days in spite of crowd problems but once it was sold it has been an unmitigated disaster and there are thousands of fans out there these days who have nothing to do with the club.
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
WSW, an absolute shambles. Fans boycotting, Rudan whingeing, 3 year contract given to Rudan, Lederer going onto the field to berate ref, shipping 14 goals in their last three games………
Grem
Roar Rookie
I’m just guessing he’s got something up his sleeve - China.
Garry
Roar Rookie
Benitez is 'free' now
Redcap
Roar Guru
"For Rudan to dodge the cameras when his leadership is needed most is disappointing." Perfect demonstration, if anybody actually needed one, that he's no leader.
Garry
Roar Rookie
officially yes atm.. ps Benitez is available now for WSW :happy:
Garry
Roar Rookie
my link posting never works ..google it or maybe try the guardian..ps google Riley Mcgree too
Kitwally
Roar Rookie
Could you guys please post a link?
Garry
Roar Rookie
On the subject of goalscoring Yengi did well overnight and “Socceroo Riley McGree has returned to haunt his old loan club Birmingham City with a stunning goal to lead Middlesbrough to a 1-0 win at St. Andrew’s.”
Redcap
Roar Guru
Anybody heard from Marko? Is he still employed? Ditch the Wanderers! Bring back the Brisbane Strikers! :silly: