Wanderers warned to buy in to Josep Gombau’s regime or risk being moved on from the club

ONE of the key figures in Josep Gombau’s revolution at Adelaide has warned Western Sydney’s squad to buy into the Spaniard’s football philosophy or risk getting the flick.

Bruce Djite with then Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau. Picture: Nicholas Wrankmore

ONE of the key figures in Josep Gombau’s revolution at Adelaide has warned Western Sydney’s squad they must “adapt or die” as the Spaniard completely reboots the club’s football philosophy.

Drawing extensive parallels with the root-and-branch reform Gombau instigated at Adelaide in 2013, former United striker Bruce Djite said Gombau would simply move on players who didn’t buy in to the new regime.

Warning that the flowering of Gombau’s methods would not be seen until next season, Djite said the rewards for those who embraced the new philosophy could include a title challenge a year from now.

Bruce Djite with then Adelaide United coach Josep Gombau. Picture: Nicholas Wrankmore

Gombau has come under increasing pressure in the wake of Saturday’s 5-0 hammering in the derby, amid reports of player dissent and with the club’s owner, Paul Lederer, forced to back his new appointment just four games in.

But Djite said the shockwaves would not affect Gombau, who went through similar early tribulations at Adelaide.

“To be fair, Western Sydney are going through exactly what we did in 2013,” Djite said. “Just like them we were copping goals, struggling in games, and the media was on the back of the players and coaches.

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“But we always believed in what he was telling us to do because he was so unwavering, no matter what was happening.

“He would always explain the reasons behind doing something – he didn’t just tell us what to do but how and why. He’s an excellent communicator.

“He never flinched and had absolute certainty and belief in the system of play, and that communicated itself to the players. I remember doing a radio interview and realising that I really believed our results would turn around.

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“He is very forthright and to be fair some players, quite big personalities at the club, didn’t buy into it, people like Cassio and Iain Fyfe.

“Josep just moved them on quietly, no problem – it’s a case of adapt or die.”

Accentuating Gombau’s issues at Sydney has been his arrival weeks into the season, compared with a two month pre-season he had at Adelaide to preach his new methodology.

The derby loss leaves Western Sydney 17 points off the summit, and Djite said the club had to look beyond the medium term.

“What he’s trying to get the Wanderers boys to do is so different to what they’ve been used to that it’s impossible to have a smooth transition,” he said.

“There’s no chance of them winning the league this year but next year I think they’ll be a real force, and they could go on an amazing run. He’ll keep players who adapt, and bring in others who he knows or who have been recommended to him.

“For me the key difference in what makes a team successful in Australia is the coach. You have a limited number of players and a salary-capped league, but Western Sydney have the best coach I ever had.

“The club have got that part of the puzzle right and now the players have to believe in what he’s doing 100%.”

Originally published as Wanderers warned to buy in to Josep Gombau’s regime or risk being moved on from the club