Passion for the cause ... Alessandro del Piero. Source: AAP
Alessandro del Piero's professionalism and will to win were the reasons behind his extraordinary outburst at the end of last Sunday's 2-1 win over Perth Glory.
Onlookers were stunned when the Italian raced to the Sydney bench as soon as the full-time whistle went and engaged in an arm-waving, finger-pointing rant with Sydney FC goalkeeping coach Zeljko Kalac.
| P | W | D | L | GD | Pts | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Adelaide | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 9 |
| 2 | Newcastle | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 9 |
| 3 | Central Coast | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| 4 | Perth | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 6 |
| 5 | Sydney | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | -1 | 6 |
| 6 | Wellington | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 |
| 7 | Brisbane | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 8 | Western Sydney | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -1 | 4 |
| 9 | Heart | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | -2 | 4 |
| 10 | Victory | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | -6 | 3 |
The discussion, in Italian, lasted two minutes and while former Socceroo Kalac was not the focus of the player's rage, it was clear something had upset him.
Sydney FC coach Ian Crook confirmed that the former Italy and Juventus superstar was not happy with the way the side played in the last 15 minutes of the match.
Despite being a man up after Steve Pantelidis had been sent off, the Sky Blues had trouble closing out the game as Perth almost snatched a draw with a couple of late chances. Indeed, Glory was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty with three minutes left after Sydney defender Rhyan Grant handled in his own area.
"Absolutely it had nothing to do with Spider (Kalac). Ale wasn't happy with the way we played in the last 10 minutes of the game when we were in front," said Crook.
"He can see what is going wrong. That (making a point) is what professionals like him do. They get upset with things like that. And that is quality. That's why players like del Piero are winners."
Kalac confirmed Crook's version of events.
"He wasn't happy that a couple of players weren't pulling their weight when we were in front," he said.
"That's what a winner does. They get the s****s. That's quality."
Del Piero had calmed down by the time the media got to him 90 minutes after the game.
"We can improve, that's why," he said when asked about the incident," he said.
"We can play better -- all of us, me as well."
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