Buoyed by their first win of the season and the announcement during the week of their takeover by one of the world’s biggest clubs in Manchester City, Melbourne Heart will likely be in a much more confident and positive mindset than in previous weeks for the vital clash with the Reds on Saturday.
Buoyed by their first win of the season and the announcement during the week of their takeover by one of the world-s biggest clubs in Manchester City, Melbourne Heart will likely be in a much more confident and positive mindset than in previous weeks for the vital clash with the Reds on Saturday.
There are no easy matches in the A-League and the Heart made this clear last week with their demolition of the Newcastle Jets 3-1 and with new owners from Manchester now on board there-s sure to be a renewed enthusiasm within the playing ranks which means the Reds will have to match, if not better the Heart-s level of intensity and desperation to secure a valuable three points on Saturday.
They may currently hold up the Hyundai A-League table but Reds coach Josep Gombau is fully aware of the threat Melbourne Heart will pose at Coopers Stadium tomorrow.
“They-re a very good team,” Gombau said of the Heart.
“We know they have good players, experienced players who have played at a high level in Europe like Harry Kewell and Orlando Engelaar and we have to respect this but we will not make any special marking for these players because in the end we are eleven against eleven.”
“We are aware of the strengths of the other team but more importantly for us is to focus on what we need to do. We have our own game and we need to keep improving every week to keep getting the performance we need to win.”
“It-s the most important game of the season for us. We are at home and we need to play well for the fans and try to win to stay in the top six and to do this, to get the result we will have to play very well”.
The Reds are aiming for three wins in a row for the first time since 11th September 2010 but Gombau says the focus as always, is on the performance first and foremost and believes that it’s the attention to what the players need to do during games which has brought the recent run of positive results.
“The players have more confidence and are working in the right way. Day by day the team is growing and day by day everybody understands better what they need to do on the field”.
The Reds will welcome back speedy winger Fabio Ferreira but will be without Michael Zullo whilst the Heart will be missing Patrick Gerhardt and David Williams with ankle injuries from last week-s line-up. With the Heart boasting big name players such as Kewell and Engelaar it-s sure to be an entertaining and high quality match as the Reds seek to continue their six game unbeaten streak against a team desperate for points.
To see Josep’s full press conference Click Here
Gates open at 3:30pm.
Saturday, 25 January 2014
Adelaide United v Melbourne Heart
Coopers Stadium, Adelaide
Kick-off: 5:00pm local (5:30pm AEDT)
Referee: Kris Griffiths-Jones
Assistant Referee 1: Daniel Goodwin
Assistant Referee 2: Stephen Toth
Fourth Official: Rick Schneider
TV Broadcast: 5.00pm (AEDT) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX Sports 1HD.Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand).
Radio Broadcast: Grandstand Digital Adelaide and Melbourne Online/Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #ADLvMHT
To purchase tickets visit Tickets
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (GK) (c), 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Jon McKAIN, 5.Osama MALIK, 7.JERONIMO, 8.ISAIAS, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 13.Steven LUSTICA, 14.Cameron WATSON, 16.Daniel BOWLES, 17.Awer MABIL, 20.Paul IZZO (GK), 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 23.Jordan ELSEY, 26.Anthony COSTA, 31.Ryan GRIFFITHS
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 22. Fabio FERREIRA (returns from injury), 16.Daniel BOWLES (returns from injury)
Outs: 18.Michael ZULLO (hamstring – 1- 2 weeks)
Unavailable: 6.CASSIO (hamstring tendon – indefinite), 9. Sergio CIRIO (hamstring – 1 week) 12.Antony GOLEC (China), 15.Jacob MELLING (knee – 4 weeks),
Melbourne Heart FC Squad: 1.Andrew REDMAYNE (GK), 2.Jeremy WALKER, 3.Robbie WIELAERT, 4.Orlando ENGELAAR, 5.Sam MITCHINSON, 7.Iain RAMSAY, 8.Massimo MURDOCCA, 10.Harry KEWELL (C), 11.Michael MIFSUD, 16.Aziz BEHICH, 17.Jason HOFFMAN, 18.David VRANKOVIC, 19.Benjamin GARUCCIO, 20.Tando VELAPHI (GK), 21.Stefan MAUK, 22.Nick KALMAR, 23.Mate DUGANDZIC, 24.Patrick KISNORBO,
**Two to be omitted**
Ins: 2.Jeremy WALKER (promoted), 5.Sam MITCHINSON (promoted), 18.David VRANKOVIC (returns from international duty), 21.Stefan MAUK (returns from international duty),
Outs: 6.Patrick GERHARDT (ankle 1 week), 15.David WILLIAMS (ankle 1 week)
Unavailable: Nil
Adelaide United FC vs. Melbourne Heart – Hyundai A-League HEAD TO HEAD Record:
Played 10 – 5 wins, 3 draws, 2 losses
1-Dec-2013…..D 3-3……2013/14 Wk 8 (AAMI Park)
11-Mar-2013… W 2-0… 2012/13 Wk 24 (AAMI Park)
18-Jan-2013… L 0-2… 2012/13 Wk 17 (AAMI Park)
17-Nov-2012… W 1-0… 2012/13 Wk 7 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
23-Mar-2012… D 1-1… 2011/12 Wk 25 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
4-Jan-2012… W 3-1… 2011/12 Marathon (AAMI Park)
4-Nov-2011… D 1-1… 2011/12 Wk 5 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
17-Dec-2010… L 1-2… 2010/11 Wk 19 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
19-Nov-2010… W 2-0… 2010/11 Wk 15 (AAMI Park)
20-Aug-2010… W 3-2… 2010/11 Wk 3 (Hindmarsh Stadium)
At Hindmarsh Stadium
Played 5; Adelaide United 2, Melbourne Heart 1, Draws 2
At AAMI Park
Played 5; Adelaide United 3, Melbourne Heart 1, Draws 1
Last time they met
1-Dec-2013 Week 8, Hyundai A-League 2013/14 Season at AAMI Park
Melbourne Heart 3
Adelaide United FC 3 (Lustica 3-, Zullo 16-, Carrusca 76-)
