Sydney FC’s Graham Arnold says his coaching was poor last season

Graham Arnold says his interaction with coaches from other sports has played a part in Sydney FC’s unbeaten run.

Sydney FC coach Graham Arnold says he mades some mistakes last season, ‘and everyone is entitled to that’.

Graham Arnold says his interaction with coaches from rugby league and rugby union and concentrating on his man-management style have played a big part in helping to steer Sydney FC to their unbeaten 17-game streak this season.

In a frank assessment, Arnold admitted his own performance “wasn’t good enough” last season when the Sky Blues missed out on the playoffs. Sydney were well placed in third spot, just a point from the lead after 15 rounds, but fell away badly in the final 12 games to eventually miss the finals.

It was the first time Arnold, who won a championship (2012-13) and Premiers Plate (2011-12) with Central Coast, had missed the finals in the five ­seasons he had coached in the A-League and left him with plenty of food for thought.

“For me, the biggest change (this season) has been myself,” ­Arnold said yesterday before finalising preparations for tomorrow’s game against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium.

“I’m the harshest critic of myself, and my performance last year wasn’t good enough.

“I’m the leader of the pack and if I don’t lead well then everything else will suffer. Am I coaching at the best of my career? No (because) the statistics and records show I’ve done well enough (in the past).

“Simply, I didn’t have a good 10 weeks (last season) and everyone is entitled to that. I think the teams I have coached in the A-League have been top two in four of the five seasons so that’s a pretty good record.”

Arnold has good connections both in soccer and other sports and has struck up a good rapport with the likes of rugby league coaching great Wayne Bennett.

“I have a great coaching staff here and we’re always talking and working things out, but I’ve also spoken to a few coaches from other sports,” Arnold said. “I’ve got a great relationship with (Brisbane Broncos coach) Wayne Bennett ... Trent Robinson (Sydney Roosters), Michael Cheika (Wallabies).

“The ball might be a different shape and the rules and tactics are different, but the philosophies are the same. The biggest thing now is how you manage people and get the best out of them. So I use that.”

While the pressure continues to build on Sydney, Arnold says he’s confident and his players have the belief they can maintain the unbeaten run.

“That’s the aim. We expect to win,” he said. “The players have that belief that when they walk on field they’re going to win.

“It’s great to have belief, but you also have to go out with the right attitude, fight and determination because in the A-League 60 to 70 per cent of the games are won on the fight and passion, winning every second ball and taking advantage of the opposition mistakes, and we have done that exceptionally well.”

Sydney will face a Brisbane Roar side coming off Tuesday night’s comfortable 6-0 win over Global FC in an Asian Champions League qualifier. John Aloisi fielded a weakened line-up but Arnold expects his team will face a full-strength Roar side tomorrow.

“I’m not sure what Johnny’s approach is going to be. That’s up to him and it really is not my concern,” he said. “They played Tuesday night, then back up on Friday then have to play in an ACL qualifier against a very good team (Shanghai Shenhua) next Tuesday.”