Interim Western Sydney Wanderers coach Jean-Paul de Marigny is convinced mindset rather than fitness is behind his A-League side's struggles to maintain intensity.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Wanderers made a rip-roaring start to Saturday's 1-1 home draw with lowly Newcastle and hit the lead after five minutes and could have been three up inside the first 15.
But they were unable to maintain momentum and the Jets rallied to dominate much of the last hour.
Wanderers haven't tasted victory at home since October, failing to win any of their last six matches at Bankwest Stadium.
They will be between four and seven points outside the top six by the end of the round.
Saturday's game wasn't the first time this season Wanderers have struggled to sustain intensity, and it frequently happened under previous coach Markus Babbel
De Marigny says the players are in shape and fitness isn't the problem.
"It's a mindset of keep on doing it for longer periods of time," de Marigny said.
"You're not going to be doing it (for just) 45 minutes. But if we can do it a little bit longer."
De Marigny said he was introducing "new things" to strengthen and extend Western Sydney's intensity.
"We'll look at how we can stay in the game longer in that regard of being aggressive and (on the) front foot," he added.
"We're implementing something into the club, something new that wasn't there before and it's a process."
De Marigny thought the Wanderers' ball movement was good at times, but again stressed the need for them to do it over longer periods.
They will get a chance to improve their recent run at home when they host Adelaide next Friday.
Australian Associated Press
