There was no telling Melbourne Victory coach Ange Postecoglou the glass was half-full, and there was plenty of time this season to get it refilled.
Postecoglou wanted champagne on A-League opening night.
He was less than pleased with the crook spumante his team served up in their 2-1 loss to Melbourne Heart at Etihad Stadium on Friday night, and his message was obvious post-match.
"I'm not sure if I've made myself clear enough," he said, twitching uncomfortably at persistent media questioning that he must be happy with some elements of his team's performance.
"I'm not happy about anything. I'm happy about absolutely zero tonight. 42,000 people turned up, and we let them down."
For Victory's long-suffering fans, it was probably exactly what they wanted to hear.
For Victory's players, it was probably what they needed to hear - mediocrity won't be tolerated under the regime of the A-League's best credentialled coach.
Coming off the highest point possible in his last match, former club Brisbane's grand final win must have seemed a world away as the Heart suffocated his new side with a potent high pressing game.
Postecoglou's Victory certainly showed glimpses of the style he wanted.
Unfortunately it came along with the defensive fragility that was a coach-killer for his two predecessors last season.
Postecoglou's wish to play the ball out of defence will take adjustment from his squad and perhaps within it - several players looking incapable at present of doing what's required.
But for now Postecoglou has backed his players, saying they were capable of far better than they showed against the Heart, and took full responsibility himself for the defeat.
"The only positive about tonight was that 42,000 people came to watch a football game," he said.
"There'd be plenty of European grounds that don't have a crowd like that this weekend.
"That inspires me, that so many would come to an A-League fixture.
"It certainly gives me motivation to make sure we get it right here."
NZN
