Sometimes quality is simply not enough to get a team through the tough times during a game.
You need grit, determination, and character, and that’s what Wanderers’ star midfielder Pirmin Schwegler said were the factors that helped the club break the Sydney Derby hoodoo in the 1-0 win at Bankwest Stadium on Saturday night.
Showing why he was so highly regarded, the former Swiss international led by example in a display of class and character that drove his teammates on for the full 90 minutes.
“We had a good mentality and sometimes mentality beats the quality,” said Schwegler.
“Of course, we had a bit of luck, but we worked for this.
“We knew we needed this mentality because Sydney have plenty of quality. They have been together three or four years, have structure and good players.
“You have to defend, never give up and fight. We did this.
“I like it, I love it, you can win with this quality.”
Schwegler, who joined the Red & Black in the pre-season, said he adjusted his style of play to suit the occasion of the Derby.
The midfielder was constantly in the thick of the action with his tackling and getting into the face of the opposition.
“Sometimes you need this quality, other times you need to be more with the ball. After 10 minutes I could see we needed another quality and it was important to show them,” explained Schwegler.
“Sydney is a big club and team and they have this mentality to win every game and you have to show ‘ok, we are the Wanderers, maybe we have a different mentality’.”
While the Wanderers have now won their first three games to be unbeaten at the top of the table, Schwegler warned there is still plenty of work to do.
“The guys deserved it (the win), but there are still many games. Nine points never reaches the playoffs,” he added.
“We have to win the next game and have to be focused.
“Tonight we can celebrate. We have another game next Saturday and we have to respect Brisbane because we can see in this league you will never have a gift, it is not easy to win.
“The League is so close. I have watched every game since the start and I can see this.”
