Melbourne City and Brisbane Roar coaches in pre-match war of words

Melbourne City coach John van’t Schip and Brisbane Roar’s John Aloisi have set the scene for an explosive game tonight.

Bitter foes John Aloisi and John van’t Schip during their time together at Melbourne Heart. Picture: George Salpigtidis.

Melbourne City coach John van’t Schip and his Brisbane Roar counterpart John Aloisi have set the scene for a potentially explosive night on and off the field after an extraordinary war of words ahead of tonight’s match at AAMI Park.

Just days after celebrating one of the highlights of his coaching career, City’s FFA Cup win against Sydney FC, an irate van’t Schip was on the front foot, attacking Aloisi and describing him as childish and “whingeing like a baby” after Aloisi criticised City’s “aggressive tactics’’ in the FFA Cup final.

In what was a calculated attack — a press conference yesterday was about to break up when the Dutchman asked, “Is anyone going to ask me about John Alo­isi’s comments?” — van’t Schip said he had had enough of the former Socceroo sniping at the club.

Aloisi had lit the fuse less than 24 hours after City’s success, telling Brisbane media that he was shocked by Melbourne City’s “aggressive tactics” and their attempt to intimidate opponents.

“We saw in the first five, 10 minutes of the cup final big tackles going in and aggressive tackles. They’re probably the most ­aggressive side in the league,” Aloisi said. “I’m sure (referee) Shaun Evans will be on top of their aggressive nature.

“There’s one thing going in hard for a ball, but it’s another thing going in to kick a player or standing over a player when a player is really injured like (Sydney fullback) Michael Zullo was.

“Even the way (Bruno) Fornaroli stood over Zullo, I was actually surprised that they acted that way.

“We don’t want that in our game. We don’t want people diving, and we don’t want people injuring someone.’’

The normally mild-mannered van’t Schip unloaded in response.

“Aloisi is talking about us again ... and having another go,” he said. “I think he has to worry more about his own team and not us. It’s getting a bit childish. He is whingeing like a baby.

“He has to stay away from our players and (stop) criticising them.

“It is more than enough now. It should be finishing here.”

But he was on a roll.

Van’t Schip reminded Aloisi that it was City, Melbourne Heart at the time, that had given him his chance at senior coaching and that he should be more respectful.

“Instead of congratulating us, the club that gave him his first chance as a coach, he does this,” he said.

All eyes will now be on the two if and when they go to shake hands either before or after the game.

On the field, van’t Schip said he had no concerns about his players getting themselves up for what he described as “a massive game”.

“They are professionals. They know what is expected,” he said. “This club wants success and it was great to win the first (senior male) trophy for the club.

“But that is history. Wednesday was a great evening for the club but we all want bigger things now.

“The league (season) is only very young and this game is massive and important. The boys are focused and are talking about it.”

The City boss said he was confident Wednesday night’s matchwinner, Tim Cahill, would play some part against the Roar. Cahill pulled up sore and was favouring his left knee after being hit in a crunching tackle in the second half.

The other consideration is that City have a short turnaround from the cup final.

“Tim is looking good. All the boys are looking good. I have a healthy squad to choose from,” van’t Schip said. “But I will wait until tomorrow morning before deciding on a line-up.”