Under-fire coach Rudan tries to explain his absence

Western Sydney coach Marko Rudan has apologised for his media noshow, saying he should have done better in that moment despite dealing with some issues in his personal life.

Rudan decided not to front the media following his team’s record 7-0 A-league Men loss to Melbourne City on Tuesday night.

With questions about Rudan’s future the big talking point this week, the 48-year-old was the centre of attention on Saturday night as his team beat Perth Glory 2-1 in enemy territory.

After the match, Rudan spoke openly when answering tough questions about his future, whether he still had the support of the player group, and why he chose not to front the media on Tuesday night.

“I apologise for not fronting the media,” Rudan said.

“I understand that I’ve got a responsibility as the head coach of this football club.

“But without going into too much, there’s been a bit going on with myself personally, in my personal life.

“And there’s probably things a little bit more important for me as far as I’m concerned.

“But I should have been better in that moment.”

Although Rudan, the former Wellington Phoenix coach, signed a threeyear contract extension in January, the club’s recent three-match losing run and rumours of dressing room discontent sparked talk that he could receive the axe.

“Everybody wants a negative story. Everybody wants something bad for somebody else. No-one’s really happy and it just gives more fuel to the fire,” Rudan said.

“I think there’s been enough fuel given to this football club, and it’s important that we just move on from the external factors, and I was a big part of that after the Macarthur game and what unfolded thereafter.”

Rudan was handed a two-match ban for lashing out at referee Adam Kersey during a post-match rant following his team’s 4-3 loss to Macarthur on February 4.

Even more recently, Western Sydney’s active supporter group have threatened to boycott games after claiming their fans were unfairly treated by police in the 4-1 loss to Sydney on March 2.

Rudan said all the drama had taken a toll on the player group.

“That’s a lot, and when you’ve got so many young players that are affected by that, (it’s tough),” Rudan said.

“We spoke about that as a playing group after the game in Melbourne. They opened up, thankfully, because the young generation don’t really tend to talk a lot or communicate a lot.

“It’s my job to protect them from all that sort of stuff.”

Did Rudan still have the support of his players?

“I think the best way to answer that kind of talk was what you saw tonight, and particularly when we scored that second goal,” Rudan said in reference to the players coming over to him to celebrate Lachlan Brook’s winner.

I understand that I’ve got a responsibility as

the head coach of this football club. But without going into

too much, there’s been a bit going on

with myself personally, in my

personal life.

Marko Rudan