I would like to take this opportunity to say that Russ is completely correct. Elite footballers are what they are, because every day they give their best.....form or injury, or external factors, can affect their confidence and standards...but they get to cross the white line because they have levels of personal motivation that only a small section of society possess. They are used to working with different people, and they wont be agonising over a coach that's gone. They will be looking to impress and cement their place under a new coach. That's just the nature of the beast.
Things may go well, they get the first goal, and the confidence that engenders take them on to a magnificent win...or they may struggle as a team, lose a goal, confidence be undermined, and go on to get hammered.
Whatever happens it wont be attitude or application....but the vicissitudes of elite sport where sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Against other elite sportsmen also trying. Where you get impact of a coach is over the longer term...the ability to identify skillsets, and set up to maximise those against various opponents.
Players might be very well paid, and in some cases highly prized as brands...but ultimately they all have their day, and get turned over without sentiment when they no longer do it. They all live with that every day of their career....and they are much better at functioning under that pressure, and subject to changing work environments, than the average human being.