Warren Joyce digs in ahead of crunch derby clash with Victory

Under fire Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce says he wants to develop a winning culture despite speculation he will be axed.

Besieged Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce directs training at City Football Academy, in preparation for tonight’s derby against Melbourne Victory. Picture: Getty Images

Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce’s future might be hanging on the outcome of the derby against Melbourne Victory at Marvel Stadium tonight, but he is adamant he isn’t about to let the “negative narrative” control him.

Pressed intently on reports this week that he is facing the sack if City continue their poor run of results and lose to Victory, the defiant Englishman declared: “I ain’t no quitter.”

While Joyce has been under pressure for most of the season, it has lifted noticeably over the past couple of months as City have managed a lone win, four losses and two draws from their past seven games. They are winless in their past four matches, slipping out of the top four and putting their finals hopes in jeopardy.

On top of the Bruno Fornaroli situation, which saw the champion goalscorer dumped from the squad after the opening four games and left to sit out the season, it has left Joyce the target of a wave of criticism and a fan backlash.

But, it hasn’t been just the fans who have lost patience. It was revealed this week City management were seriously looking at his position with suggestions he would not last the week after the 3-1 loss to a severely depleted Newcastle Jets.

That didn’t seem to affect Joyce yesterday morning when he fronted the media for the first time since the report. “I was coaching this morning … so you can start the day on that,” Joyce said with a smile when it was pointed out to him that he is still obviously the coach at City. “There’s always pressure. There was pressure from the first day I walked in to the club because you are expected to win.”

It didn’t take long, however, for the niceties to disappear as he was grilled about his position, whether he was worried about getting the sack and if he wanted to stay on.

Has the club spoken to you about your future and do you want to be here?

“No, and at the minute I just want to concentrate on winning games,” Joyce said

But, do you want to stay as coach? “There’s lot of people at this football club that have got a hell of a lot of good standards and values and want the club to move forward, who really want to make a difference in Australia, who really want to make a difference in Asia, who really want to entertain the fans and get families to the games,” he said.

But, do you want to stay here?

“I ain’t a quitter. You’ve got pride in trying to do your best to play your part in the project,” Joyce said. “I don’t let these things affect me. It’s what happens in football. I can’t judge other people’s narratives or spin, or if there is a grain of truth, a lot of truth or no truth at all. I know the facts and I am comfortable.”

Joyce was a little evasive when asked if he had to meet certain criteria to retain his job at City and whether finishing out of the finals would be acceptable.

“Your KPIs are yourself. If you are used to winning then you want to keep winning. The biggest critic is yourself,” he added. “This football club is about winning. We want to win the league.

“At this minute we are in a situation where it is still possible to win the grand final.

“Even in my mind, we win the grand final and I’d still be disappointed not to win the league (Premiers Plate). I want to be consistent over a full season and not just win three games at end of year and we are (crowned) the best team. Where I come from, you want to win the league, you want to do that every single day, week in and week out.”

Having already beaten and drawn with Victory in their two games this season, Joyce remains confident his side can do it again.

“They have good players and plenty of experience and quality in a lot of areas,” he said.

“We have done well against them this season and we just have to go out and relish the big challenges, relish the individual battles, relish playing against the big players, relish the big, hostile crowd and enjoy the occasion.”