Head Coach Josep Gombau, has described the mentality of his players as “hungry” after a long preseason and has said they are ready to take it to Brisbane on Sunday at Suncorp Stadium.
“We have done well (in preseason), but in the end the league is obviously more important,” he said.
“We start in Brisbane – against the team who won the league last season – and we have a lot of respect for them, but I think we can do our job because the team is ready and everyone is feeling well.”
“Everybody inside the team knows what their job is. Everybody will run, will fight, because this is the ambition that we have and what we’ve put into the team.”
Gombau said that he is grateful for the way his squad and the club have allowed him to introduce his style of football – a style that will see the versatility of the team allow them to adapt to any opposition and any obstacle.
“With the two formations (that we have been practicing) it is easy for us to change between them depending on the team we are playing, depending what is happening in the game, depending if we are playing home, or away – this was the aim.
“Last season we just had time to work (on one formation), but this season we have implemented another and have played it in a few games.”
And club captain, Eugene Galekovic, believes the team’s preparation ahead of the 2014/15 campaign has the squad ready for anything the league can throw at them.
“Last year our system was a 4-3-3 and we didn’t really change too much from that. Now we have a plan-B and even a plan-C, so if things do go wrong in a game the boys know exactly what to do and what position they need to be in.
“We want to have a good start to the season and I think that we’re in better shape (than last year) as well, so there’s no excuses this time ‘round.”
With the team travelling to Brisbane tomorrow, the Reds are leaving Adelaide confident after beating the Roar in the Westfield FFA Cup round of 16.
But Gombau’s men know they will face a much stronger Brisbane outfit in their first round clash especially away from home.
“I don’t think we did enough away (last season) and this is what we need to improve.
“We need to play the same away as we do at home and have the same confidence wherever we go. This will be our target and Sunday we will prove this.”
Adelaide United take on Brisbane Roar on Sunday 12 October 2014, at Suncorp Stadium in Round 1 of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 season. Kick-off is at 4:00pm local (4:30pm ACDT).
Sunday, 12 October 2014
Brisbane Roar FC v Adelaide United
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Kick-off: 4:00pm local (5:00pm AEDT)
Referee: Ben Williams
Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: Andrew Lindsay
Fourth Official: Alex King
TV Broadcast: 5.00pm (AEDT) Live and exclusive broadcast on FOX SPORTS 1HD & 1 and Sky Sport 2 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 612 ABC Brisbane, Local Radio QLD, 891 ABC Adelaide, Local Radio SA, Grandstand Digital, Online/A-League Live Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #BRIvADL
To purchase tickets visit www.aleague.com.au/tickets
Brisbane Roar FC squad: 2.Matt SMITH (c), 3.Shane STEFANUTTO, 4.Adam SAROTA, 7.Mensur KURTISHI, 8.Steven LUSTICA, 10 HENRIQUE, 11.Liam MILLER, 12.Jean Carlos SOLORZANO, 13.Jade NORTH, 14.Daniel BOWLES, 15.James DONACHIE, 17.Matt McKAY, 18.Luke BRATTAN, 19.Jack HINGERT, 21.Jamie YOUNG (GK), 22.Thomas BROICH, 23.Dimitri PETRATOS, 30.Matthew ACTON (GK)
Ins: Not Applicable
Outs: Not Applicable
Unavailable: 1.Michael THEO (wrist – 2 months), 5.Corey BROWN (rib – 1 week)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 6.CÁSSIO, 7.PABLO SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 22.Fabio FERREIRA, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 30.John HALL (GK), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOULOS
***one to be omitted***
Ins: Nil
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: Mark OCHIENG (international duty), Ben WARLAND (international duty), Awer MABIL (international duty), Paul IZZO (international duty), Cameron WATSON (toe – 3-4 weeks), Osama MALIK (calf – 2 weeks), Jordan ELSEY (wrist – 6 weeks)
