Wanderers boss Markus Babbel warns his team they need ‘big discipline’ to advance in FFA Cup
IT was an unwelcome dose of reality that showed Wanderers boss Markus Babbel how much work remains ahead of him in resurrecting his new side.
Football
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IT was an unwelcome dose of reality that showed Wanderers boss Markus Babbel how much work remains ahead of him in resurrecting his new side.
In the wake of a troubling 2-0 defeat to the Mariners in a friendly last week, Babbel has warned his team they will be “in trouble” if there is any repeat in Wednesday’s FFA Cup quarterfinal against Melbourne City.
Weeks into his fundamental reform of the Wanderers’ style, Babbel admitted he is still to see it fully take root and demanded “big discipline” from his side as they eye a place in the last four of the FFA Cup for the second consecutive season.
“We are looking forward to a big game, a cup game - we try to reach the next stage (of the cup),” Babbel said.
“If we play like we did on Friday against the Central Coast then it will be very difficult to beat (City). If we play our style like we can, then we have a good chance.
“To be fair, we were not looking to this game (against the Mariners), we were looking towards the game on Wednesday. So we had a hard training session before the game.
“It wasn’t the best preparation, because for me the result is not the key thing. It shows me that if we are not fresh, if we are not focused on our game, then we will be in trouble.
It was a friendly and we can learn from it but (against City) we can’t learn.”
Babbel admitted the start of the A-League remains a distant horizon, as he instils a new style in the wake of Josep Gombau’s little-lamented exit at the end of the last campaign.
“We work with every single player - some are improving more than others and this is normal,” Babbel said. “If everyone is fit then I think we have a good team on the pitch.
“In some games they are doing very well and showing some of the things we do in training. But otherwise still it’s the old style, and looks not so good.
“We keep working on this and they have to know we need a big discipline on the pitch. This is the key for success. If we have no discipline, like Friday against the Central Coast, it’s difficult to get results.
“If we show it the chance is there because the team can play football. There’s a lot of work to do.
“We know we have to show our best; we have to work hard, and we need the confidence. The players have to know they are good, and if they trust each other we can be a good side.
“I’m not so much looking forward to the new season games, there is still a month to go and for us it is important that everyone is fit.”
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