“That’s where you really need to earn your crust as a coach. We have been given the draw, we understand what it looks like and we’ve been working overtime in putting a plan together – notwithstanding form does mean a lot – but you still have to have a lot of different plans in place and a strategy to get through this period.

“For us, we’re playing six games, which is a lot more than others. So, we need to be more on point in making sure our planning is spot on. In this period, you really have to work as a coach, how do you take advantage of certain rules and utilising those rules to your advantage.”

A-League Greg O’Rourke told the SMH he hoped that the addition of extra substitutes would usher in highly attacking and entertaining play in the season’s run home.

Eyebrows were raised, however, when the A-League boss then revealed that he had communicated as much to the league's coaches.

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"I've had three meetings now, every fortnight for the last six weeks and spoken to [the coaches] about trying to ensure they make the product as exciting as possible, and make use of five subs and introduce new players and making sure there is a higher interest level through this," O'Rourke told SMH.

Asked about those comments on Friday, Rudan cut a slightly bemused figure.

“It’s an interesting one,” he said. “Because when it comes to an administrator telling coaches how to coach, it doesn’t always go down too well.

“We all want to play a certain style of game but that’s up to each individual and the respective clubs and coaches. There was a lot of messages from coaches to coaches after we were told that.

“I don’t think anyone plans to play or trains to play a bland 0-0 game, that goes without saying, but I think there needs to be a little bit more… maybe respect the coaches because they work extremely hard.

“So, it was an interesting comment that Greg made.

“I understand why he made it, but I don’t think any coach tells Greg how to do his job. That’s not trying to be mean in any way, shape or form, but I think there should be enough respect for the coaches to do their jobs and let them do what they do best.

“Let others critique if it's good, bad or otherwise.

“We understand that the product is important, I certainly do, and I can only speak for myself, how I like to a coach and see the game played. We scored 11 goals in the last two games before the covid period and were becoming the team that I’ve always known that we’d become.”

Elsewhere, United received a significant boost on Friday, with the announcement that captain Alessandro Diamanti had signed a two-season extension at the club.