Unless Sydney beat Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on Sunday afternoon, Adelaide will finish fourth and City fifth, which would ensure these two teams meet again in the elimination final.

On the evidence of this display, when City struggled to get into the match and questions once more arose about their mental fragility, few would give them any chance against the rampant Reds, who were missing several key players from their starting line-up.

But van 't Schip pointed out that each game was different, and it was better to take a heavy defeat in a game such as this, which, to all intents and purposes was a dead rubber, than in a match which will determine how City's season finishes.

"I  am (confident)..otherwise better not come here. I for sure am and the boys are as well. Next week will be a playoff. They will be totally different," van 't Schip said.

"We have to swallow this defeat....it's something we have to take responsibility for and make sure we come back stronger next week.

"It's better to lose now in what was a game that was not that important for the points and ranking (although) it was for the mental aspect.

"It's not what we wanted. We had a very good session yesterday when we left. We were not talking too much about the opponent,  more about us.

"We stopped playing ourselves, and we were giving the ball away too easily."

Adelaide boss Josep Gombau was naturally delighted with his side's display, not least with Tarek Elrich's marvellous solo goal.

But the Spaniard urged caution for anyone who thought they might have an easy game next week if they play City again.

"Every game is difficult. They beat us a few months ago, today we won, but next week could be different."