Interim head coach Jean-Paul de Marigny says his players are in a good space as the Wanderers look to continue to build on their mid-season revival against Brisbane Roar at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.
Unbeaten in their past four games, the Red & Black will go into the match full of confidence after securing a second Sydney Derby success of the season in beating Sydney FC 1-0 on their home turf last week.
That’s now three wins and a draw since de Marigny took the reins – a run of results that has put the Wanderers within touching distance of the Top Six.
But, the Finals are the furthest thing from the minds of de Marigny and the players.
“It is all about the confidence because football is about momentum and confidence,” said de Marigny.
“It’s been a good week. The training yesterday was really enjoyable and I told the players I really enjoyed the way they performed and the intensity they had with lots of positive outcomes.
“They are in a really good space. They are enjoying their football and they are very confident.”
As for the Finals, de Marigny was not about to get caught up in the hype of his team’s resurgence of late.
The Red & Black are in eighth spot with 24 points and are just two behind sixth-placed Brisbane. If results go the right way they could find themselves in the six by the end of the weekend.
“To be honest, I have not looked at the table because there is no good energy in that,” said the former Socceroo. “I have never done that and I am not about to start now.
“It’s all about performance, execution equals outcome. That’s what I look at.
“You are in control of your group, the players and staff and that’s what we spend our energy on. I am not talking about it (the finals) and neither are the players.
“We are all in the same frame of mind, doing our work on a daily, on a weekly basis and looking to get better all the time.”
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The Roar have proven to be tough customers for the Wanderers this season, securing an 0-0 draw and a 2-1 win in the two clashes at Bankwest Stadium earlier this season.
Under Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler, the Queenslanders have been one of the form teams of the League having won five, drawn three and lost just two of their past 10 games.
“Of course it will be tough. We respect every team and coach. They are well organised, but there are certain areas we feel we can take advantage of and we need to be aware of their threats,” added de Marigny.
“We are quietly confident – doesn’t matter home or away – and we will continue to do what we do with and without the ball.
“It’s all about for us, about a platform to go where we want to go.
“We have not looked back (at the two results against Brisbane), we are looking forward.
“We have a game plan we want to implement.”
