Wanderers coach Mark Rudan busy restoring belief in a Western Sydney team lacking confidence

Western Sydney coach Mark Rudan says there is a ‘long way to go’ before the Wanderers are again an A-League force.

Wanderers coach Mark Rudan has a big job ahead of him at Western Sydney. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Western Sydney coach Mark Rudan is working overtime to restore pride to a Wanderers team lacking confidence and belief.

Just three games into Rudan’s Wanderers tenure following last month’s sacking of Carl Robinson, the honeymoon period is well and truly over for the former Wellington Phoenix and Western United coach,

A first-up 1-0 win over Perth Glory has been followed up by successive losses to Western United (1-0) and Melbourne City (3-1).

Ahead of Wednesday night’s battle against Melbourne Victory at CommBank Stadium, the Wanderers sit second last on the A-League ladder with just nine points from 10 matches.

“There’s a long way to go and it’s small steps right now,” Rudan said.

“I’ve never walked into a job halfway through a season when you have to assess so many things.

“I entered a club with a lot of people down on confidence and belief, and that’s not what I see the Wanderers as being about.

“The most important thing is that I feel the club wants to be led. Players were not really aware of their roles and responsibilities.

“People around you know and can sense when something is happening, and they will only follow you if they believe in it.”

Wanderers coach Mark Rudan consoles his players in defeat. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images

Tony Popovic faced a similar task of resurrecting an A-League giant when he was appointed Victory coach following a disastrous 2020-21 that landed the club the wooden spoon.

Popovic has had an immediate effect. Despite losses in their past two matches, the Victory won the FFA Cup last month and seem set to challenge for the A-League title.

“’Popa’ was given the role nice and early and was able to prepare nice and early, and bring the squad in he wanted, and had a full pre-season,” Rudan said.

“I’m not about excuses but my situation is different, but certainly my mentality is no different to his.

“The bigger the challenge the better for me. The most important thing here is that I’m backed by good football people and a football club that’s hugely supported.”

Victory defender Jason Geria promised that his team would not under-estimate the Wanderers.

“They’re a team with a lot of quality, a lot of very good players,” Geria said.

”We’re not going to take them lightly or make any assumptions that it will be an easy match. Western Sydney away is always hard.”

Geria insisted there was no panic in the Victory camp despite successive losses to Wellington Phoenix (1-0) and the Newcastle Jets (2-1).

“There’s a lot of football to be played and we know what we’re capable of when we’re playing at our best,” he said.

Originally published as Wanderers coach Mark Rudan busy restoring belief in a Western Sydney team lacking confidence