HARRY Kewell has promised a revitalised Melbourne Victory against arch rival Sydney FC tomorrow after declaring the players were ashamed of their display in Perth at the weekend.
Kewell scored Victory's only goal in an ill-disciplined 4-1 loss to Glory, a result that leaves the club with only four wins from 17 games.
"I don't think we can put it behind us and forget it," Kewell said as the players were put through training at Gosch's Paddock in the middle of Melbourne's heatwave yesterday afternoon.
"We know we played terribly. We got battered and we don't want to go through that again."
Kewell said the players had been involved in several meetings with new coach Jim Magilton since the Perth performance, after which a shocked Magilton attacked Victory's culture and promised sweeping changes.
Kewell said, however, that training in the heat of the day was not so much punishment, but because Victory will tackle Sydney at 4pm tomorrow.
"The players are ashamed of what happened in Perth," he said.
"But the great thing about football is that there is always a game around the corner. There is no better game to do it than against our bitter rivals, especially on Australia Day.
"We can prepare all we like throughout the week, but once we cross the white line it is up to us.
"We remain enthusiastic. One month we are hot and one month we are cold. We just can't do that."
Kewell said the lack of discipline in Perth, with Danny Allsopp sent off and three goals conceded in the first half, two of them penalties, could not be tolerated.
"And we were always second to the ball, second challenging passes," he said. "It wasn't good enough at all."
Kewell said he was looking forward to fellow Socceroo Mark Milligan joining on loan from Japan's JEF United.
"It is great to have that kind of player here for the next couple of months," he said.
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