Melbourne City only play to win says John van’t Schip, brushing off ‘anti-football’ jibe

JOHN van't Schip says Melbourne City will do its talking on the field against Perth Glory, refusing to bite back at allegations his team play "anti-football."

Former Brisbane team mate, Ivan Franjic takes down Thomas Broich and earns a yellow card. Brisbane Roar Vs Melbourne City at Suncorp Stadium. Pic Jono Searle.

JOHN van't Schip says Melbourne City will do its talking on the field against Perth Glory after refusing to bite back at allegations his team played "anti-football" in Brisbane last week.

But the coach declared it is imperative that City's players do put their best foot forward on Friday night — for the fans, he said — after suffering back-to-back disappointments at AAMI Park in recent weeks.

City coughed up a two-goal lead to be humbled 3-2 by Newcastle in Round 4 before suffering consecutive home defeats for the first time since March-April 2014 after being trounced 3-0 by Western Sydney in Round 6.

"We are disappointed about the last games and we want to set that right," van't Schip said.

"The only way to do that is get a win against Perth. Everyone, looking at the training and the week, understands that.

"The performance in Brisbane was important, but again we have to show that we can back those things up and make sure that we can make a next step."

After the 1-1 draw against the Roar, former Heart coach John Aloisi slammed City for what he perceived to be negative tactics against his new side. Van't Schip said "I don't agree and that's the only thing that I can say" about the comments.

But when asked if his side would play a more attacking brand against Perth than it did last week, van't Schip defended his team's style, particularly in light of the fact that it continues to go without first-team regulars Robbie Koren, Michael Zullo, Patrick Kisnorbo and Aaron Hughes.

"We always try to do that," van't Schip said.

"Look at our games. Sydney away (in Round 1), I think we were there to try and win the game, even though we have all those problems with injuries.

"It's the way we want to play, even with players who are not first team starters normally we have that approach and it doesn't change.

"It does mean that sometimes, because the other team is maybe stronger, you have to defend and go back, but we always go out there to try and win the game and that means we want to have the ball and attack."

Socceroos right back Ivan Franjic, recovered from his quad injury, is likely to start tonight after coming on in the second half of what was his City debut last week.

Zullo (calf), despite playing in the youth team on Sunday, remains at least another week away, while the makeshift central defensive pair of Connor Chapman and Jacob Melling is set to be used again in the ongoing absence of Kisnorbo (calf) and Hughes (calf).

Originally published as Melbourne City only play to win says John van’t Schip, brushing off ‘anti-football’ jibe