Perth Glory coach Kenny Lowe has scoffed at suggestions the club is being torn apart by infighting, claiming the recent spate of incidents involving players and coaches is nothing out of the ordinary.
The Glory have hit the headlines for all the wrong reasons over the past few weeks, with their six-game losing run not their only concern.
Skipper Jacob Burns and striker Ryan Edwards had to be separated following a training pitch bust-up, while star recruit William Gallas and assistant coach Andy Ord exchanged heated words straight after the club's 2-0 loss to Western Sydney last week.
With Perth languishing near the foot of the table, the infighting comes at the worst possible time.
But Lowe, who was appointed interim coach after a player-led revolt led to the sacking of Alistair Edwards in December, is adamant the issues at Glory are no different to what other clubs deal with on a regular basis.
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"You've got 23 men, and you're not going to keep them all happy," Lowe said ahead of Friday night's clash with Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium.
"They're all going to have a moan. It's like having 23 wives.
"When you don't win games, everybody acts up.
"There's a little bit of a fiery set-up in the changing room. There's a little bit of a fiery set-up on the training ground.
"For us it seems to be leaking out into the press all the time, but that happens in every single changing room.
"The other week Arsenal - they're top of the Premier League - they're rolling around having a scuffle with each other.
"It's just the nature of football."
With just seven games remaining, Glory are a worrying six points adrift of sixth spot.
In contrast, Brisbane sit four points clear on top of the table.
But back-to-back losses to lowly Melbourne Heart and Newcastle have left Brisbane's Premier's Plate ambitions looking a tad shaky.
Five of Brisbane's remaining seven games are at home, and coach Mike Mulvey is imploring his team to blow away perceptions they are a wavering outfit.
"There's no excuses for us," Mulvey said.
"Destiny is in our own hands and that's what we want.
"We've played some wonderful football this year and we've had some breathtaking wins at the death, and we need to get back on the bike.
"I have great faith and trust in this group of players."
Mulvey has made only one change for the clash with Glory, naming Dimitri Petratos on the wing in place of Henrique.
