Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat hails ‘shift in attitude’ from players ahead of Big Blue

IF MELBOURNE Victory players were getting ahead of themselves then coach Kevin Muscat insists they have copped the reality check they needed.

A League Soccer - Melbourne Victory v Melbourne City at AAMI Park, Daniel Georgievski in action. Melbourne. 19th December 2015. Picture: Colleen Petch.

IF MELBOURNE Victory players were getting ahead of themselves then coach Kevin Muscat insists they have copped the reality check they needed.

Muscat said on Monday there had been a "definite shift" in attitude of late, as three second half goals to rescue a point against Central Coast combined with last week's 4-0 battering of Brisbane was an indication the team was back on track.

Muscat also had a subtle dig at Sydney FC ahead of Tuesday night’s mouthwatering Etihad Stadium blockbuster, saying last season's defeated grand finalist is a "reactive" team as opposed to his attacking side that likes to take the game on.

The coach is confident his team is in the right head space going in to what is a crucial game against a fellow title challenger.

"Certain things creep in, you start believing in yourself more than you should and therefore you stop working as hard," Muscat said.

"Did I see that we were going to be down 3-0 at half time (against the Mariners)? Probably not. “We weren't anywhere near where we needed to be in terms of our attitude and therefore our application drops off.

"But credit to the group, because they've pulled themselves together.

“I think since then our attitude has been spot on and once your attitude is right then all of those things - ability, tactics, structures - come in to play.

"It's been pleasing for us, but we've only put a game-and-a-half of football together so there's still a lot to come."

Muscat expressed dismay at the fact his Olyroos have been late in coming home from their Olympic qualifying tournament in Qatar, which ended in defeat last Thursday morning.

Connor Pain and Giancarlo Gallifuoco arrived home on Monday morning and Thomas Deng on Monday night.

Only fullbacks Jason Geria and Scott Galloway, who landed on Sunday, are available on Tuesday night but Muscat said even they are "highly unlikely" to be involved.

Daniel Georgievski can return from suspension, which poses an interesting selection headache given debutant Stefan Nigro starred at right back last week and Dylan Murnane was also solid on the left.

Muscat said his side needs to be wary of the Sky Blues on the break and at set pieces.

But Victory has scored 13 goals in its last four games against Graham Arnold's men, so Sydney's record this season as being the A-League's best defence is not to be feared.

"Maybe we force them to come out," Muscat said.

"We attack and our mindset is going to be no different again. "They are contrasting styles, one team being proactive and the other team being reactive.

"There's no right way, beauty is in the eye of the beholder I suppose."

Originally published as Melbourne Victory coach Kevin Muscat hails ‘shift in attitude’ from players ahead of Big Blue