Commitment is an important word in Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce's vocabulary, and while rumours about his future continue to swirl around the soccer world he has stressed that he is as fixed of purpose now as he was the day he took the City job nearly two years ago.
In something of a metaphor for his commitment to the cause, the Englishman got off his sickbed on Thursday to supervise training – from a distance – so as not to infect any of his players with the virus which he picked up returning from west Sydney and his team's 3-0 loss to the Wanderers last weekend.
Mopping his fevered brow – literally – Joyce addressed speculation about whether he will be at City next season, whether he might end up at Wellington and how focussed he is on the A-League at all given his close former colleague Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had been appointed Manchester United's full time manager.
Asked about Wellington – who may need to replace Mark Rudan, who has been linked with several clubs in Australia next season – Joyce said: "Ive not heard a story about that I was looking to approach anybody. I dont know anything about any Wellington situation. Ive been in bed all week so theres nothing to talk about there."
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He did react angrily to a television interviewer following his side's disappointing performance last weekend, but wasn't taking a backward step.
"My concern, my snap last week on the TV was when the word commitment was mentioned. I've come out here committed to a cause," he said.
"It's difficult at the minute for the players because theres a lot of contracts up. It's difficult for myself because mine is as well but the only way you get another contract in football is if youre successful.
"So the main aim is, everybody is trying to focus and pull together. If we do well as a group we all benefit.
"That's what Im talking about behind the scenes. The players are a good bunch and were all in it together for the same objective, to do as well as we possibly can before the end of the season.
"If we do that, it's a lot better and (players) have a lot more chance of getting improved contracts here. I certainly think I've shown commitment to working, to try and do the things they (the City hierarchy) asked me to do.
"Well continue to do that. If it's not to be at the end of the season, weve given it our best shot."
City should make the finals, but can ill afford any more slip ups in their last four games. Three of those, beginning with the fixture against Brisbane Roar on Friday night, are at home.
Italian centre back Iacopo La Rocca is in doubt for the game as he is struggling with a hamstring injury and captain Scott Jamieson's foot injury will ensure he is still out for a while yet.
But City will welcome back star striker Jamie Maclaren, whoRead More – Source
Commitment is an important word in Melbourne City coach Warren Joyce's vocabulary, and while rumours about his future continue to swirl around the soccer world he has stressed that he is as fixed of purpose now as he was the day he took the City job nearly two years ago.
In something of a metaphor for his commitment to the cause, the Englishman got off his sickbed on Thursday to supervise training – from a distance – so as not to infect any of his players with the virus which he picked up returning from west Sydney and his team's 3-0 loss to the Wanderers last weekend.
Mopping his fevered brow – literally – Joyce addressed speculation about whether he will be at City next season, whether he might end up at Wellington and how focussed he is on the A-League at all given his close former colleague Ole Gunnar Solksjaer had been appointed Manchester United's full time manager.
Asked about Wellington – who may need to replace Mark Rudan, who has been linked with several clubs in Australia next season – Joyce said: "Ive not heard a story about that I was looking to approach anybody. I dont know anything about any Wellington situation. Ive been in bed all week so theres nothing to talk about there."
Advertisement
He did react angrily to a television interviewer following his side's disappointing performance last weekend, but wasn't taking a backward step.
"My concern, my snap last week on the TV was when the word commitment was mentioned. I've come out here committed to a cause," he said.
"It's difficult at the minute for the players because theres a lot of contracts up. It's difficult for myself because mine is as well but the only way you get another contract in football is if youre successful.
"So the main aim is, everybody is trying to focus and pull together. If we do well as a group we all benefit.
"That's what Im talking about behind the scenes. The players are a good bunch and were all in it together for the same objective, to do as well as we possibly can before the end of the season.
"If we do that, it's a lot better and (players) have a lot more chance of getting improved contracts here. I certainly think I've shown commitment to working, to try and do the things they (the City hierarchy) asked me to do.
"Well continue to do that. If it's not to be at the end of the season, weve given it our best shot."
City should make the finals, but can ill afford any more slip ups in their last four games. Three of those, beginning with the fixture against Brisbane Roar on Friday night, are at home.
Italian centre back Iacopo La Rocca is in doubt for the game as he is struggling with a hamstring injury and captain Scott Jamieson's foot injury will ensure he is still out for a while yet.
But City will welcome back star striker Jamie Maclaren, whoRead More – Source