Marco Kurz and Jordan Elsey said nullifying the impact of the Newcastle Jets’ potent attack will be crucial in claiming the three points at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.
The Reds have suffered back-to-back defeats and will be determined to return to winning ways in the Remembrance Round clash.
Adelaide suffered a 1-0 loss to Perth Glory last weekend, while Newcastle dispatched Wellington Phoenix 3-0 at home.
Head Coach, Kurz, revealed he has been pleased with the Reds’ response in the build up to the game, with finishing the main emphasis at training during the week.
“The training this week has been good, we trained well and the focus was good for the game now against Newcastle,” he said.
“I think it was a normal week for us, we trained a couple of sessions and one of the main focuses was to create chances and to finish and score goals.
“I think we have had a lot of good moments in our last games but we made the wrong decisions and that’s the final pass.”
Presenting our #RemembranceRound jersey for 2017. Read all about it and check it out in more detail here: https://t.co/lYfJs8J1wU#AUFC #ADLvNEW
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— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) November 9, 2017
The German tactician was delighted to have striker Baba Diawara return from a hamstring injury.
“I think it’s important that players come back after injuries,” he said.
“He started to train with the team at the beginning of the week after a couple of weeks we missed him.
“He has no problems and I was very happy for the boy and also for us, Baba has good qualities and it’s good to know that he’s in our squad.”
Ernie Merrick’s men are unbeaten to begin the campaign and have scored a league-high 13 goals. Kurz admitted his team must be well organised defensively.
Irishman Roy O’Donovan is the competition’s leading scorer with seven goals in five games.
“I think every game is a hard test in the A-League, the teams are very close together,” he said.
“I like the playing style of Ernie’s team, they’ve started very well in the first five games and have scored the most goals in the A-League.
“With O’Donovan they’ve the best scorer in the A-League and I know that we must be awake for ninety minutes and defend extraordinarily well.”
Meanwhile, Elsey, said he is looking forward to the challenge of containing the Jets and keeping the likes of O’Donovan quiet.
“They have good quality strikers and wingers and like I said before it’s not just me and Ben (Warland),” he said.
“It’s a whole, it’s the collective team defending, but for me personally I like playing against the top strikers in the league.
“It keeps me switched on and it should be good I’m excited.
“… Watching their games, they’re good going forward, they’re dangerous, they create chances and we’ll be looking to stop that tomorrow.”
Elsey further added recording a maiden clean sheet for the season would be massive, after United have conceded in each of their five matches.
“It would mean a huge deal in front of our home fans,” he continued.
“It’s just about the focus and I know everyone harps on about the slow starts and obviously we’ll be looking to rectify that with our focus.
“And all the boys will be switched on from the first whistle.”
Team news
Kurz has been boosted by the return of striker, Baba Diawara, after he has recovered from a hamstring issue. Karim Marmour was cleared off any serious injury to his arm following a heavy clash against the Glory and is also named in the 18-man squad.
However, Johan Absalonsen (thigh), Vince Lia (knee), Ersan Gülüm (lung), Taylor Regan (ankle) and Tarek Elrich (knee) remain ruled out.
Last five meetings
1-0 win @ Coopers Stadium
2-1 loss @ McDonald Jones Stadium
1-1 draw @ McDonald Jones Stadium
1-0 win @ Coopers Stadium
0-0 draw @ McDonald Jones Stadium
Adelaide United host Newcastle Jets in Round 6 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Saturday, 11 November at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 5.05pm ACDT.
