Adelaide United head-coach, Josep Gombau, has said his side remains positive ahead of their match with Sydney FC, despite being without a win in their last two domestic league matches.
With the Reds readying themselves for a Boxing Day encounter with Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium on Friday evening, Josep Gombau remains upbeat regarding his squad’s current form regardless of being without a win in their last two Hyundai A-League matches.
“I’m an optimist and I always see things in a good way,” Gombau said.
“We’ve lost three games in the whole season and the last game we played after three days. I think we did a good job (considering the circumstances).
“For us there are still three games before we stop (for the Asian Cup break). In this moment, if I am honest, we need to try to get the results.
“Then we have this break, which will be good for us to have some days off and recover physically and mentally and comeback and make the second half of the season the best we can.
“We are playing well and it’s true that we lost last week, but we created a lot of chances and I am satisfied with the work we are doing.
“Every year I want to be in this position. We’re in the top three, plus winning the FFA Cup – I’m happy.
United’s captain, Eugene Galekovic, is just as optimistic, stating the Round 12 tie as a largely important one in the Reds’ season and one the entire squad is eagerly anticipating.
“It’s a massive game,” Galekovic claimed.
“Sydney sit just below us (on the table), so the more points (we) drop the more the teams below (us) start catching up.
“In the Hyundai A-League we’ve lost a couple (games) now and we need to get back on that winning track.
“We’re still in a great position and we know that. We’re sitting third and we’re one game off second, so there’s definitely still confidence (within the squad) and the boys are looking forward to Friday night.”
The only fresh concern for the squad is the injury suffered to Fabio Ferreira against Newcastle Jets last round, something Gombau is disappointed with, but his belief in his players is great enough to not let it concern him.
“We have Fabio (out with injury). He was injured against Newcastle and he will be out for two, or three, weeks.
“For us it’s a big loss because he’s a player that is bringing a lot to us, but we do have other players who can play in his position and in the end the most important thing is the players who can play the game.”
Adelaide United face Sydney FC in Round 12 of the Hyundai A-League 2014/15 Season on Friday, 26 December. Kick off is at 7.15pm ACDT (7.45 AEDT).
Friday, 26 December 2014
Sydney FC v Adelaide United
Allianz Stadium, Sydney
Kick-Off: 7:45 PM (Local) (7:45 PM AEDT)
Referee: Jarred Gillett
Assistant Referee 1: Nathan MacDonald
Assistant Referee 2: James Tesoriero
Fourth Official: Chris Young
TV Broadcast: Live and exclusive coverage on FOX SPORTS 505 from 7.30pm (AEDT), Live Coverage on SBS HD & SBS One from 7.30pm AEDT and Sky Sport 3 (New Zealand)
Radio Broadcast: 891 ABC Adelaide, ABC Local Radio SA, 702 ABC Sydney & ABC Local Radio NSW, Grandstand Digital, Online/ABC Radio Mobile phone app
Join the conversation on Twitter using the hash-tag #SFCvADL
Sydney FC squad: 1.Ivan NECEVSKI (gk), 2.Seb RYALL, 4.Pedj BOJIC, 6.Nikola PETKOVIC, 8.Milos DIMITRIJEVIC, 9.Shane SMELTZ, 11.Bernie IBINI, 12.Hagi GLIGOR, 13.Christopher NAUMOFF, 14.Alex BROSQUE (c), 16.Alex GERSBACH, 17.Terry ANTONIS, 18.Peter TRIANTIS, 20.Vedran JANJETOVIC (gk), 21.Mark JANKO, 23.Rhyan GRANT, 25.Aaron CALVER, 28.Max BURGESS***two to be omitted***
Ins: 14.Alex BROSQUE (return form injury), 28. Max BURGESS (promoted)
Outs: Nil
Unavailable: 3.Sasa OGNENOVSKI (hip – indefinite), 7.Corey GAMEIRO (knee – indefinite), 22.Ali ABBAS (knee – indefinite), 5.Matt JURMAN (illness – 2 weeks), 19.Nick CARLE (knee – indefinite)
Adelaide United squad: 1.Eugene GALEKOVIC (c) (GK), 2.Michael MARRONE, 3.Nigel BOOGAARD, 4.Dylan McGOWAN, 7.PABLO SÁNCHEZ, 8.ISAÍAS, 9.Sergio CIRIO, 10.Marcelo CARRUSCA, 11.Bruce DJITE, 14.Cameron WATSON, 15.Ben WARLAND, 16.Craig GOODWIN, 17.Awer MABIL, 18.Jimmy JEGGO, 21.Tarek ELRICH, 24.Bruce KAMAU, 30.John HALL (GK), 32.Nathan KONSTANDOPOPOULOS ***two to be omitted***
Ins: 15.Ben WARLAND (promoted)
Outs: 22.Fabio FERREIRA (hamstring – 2-3 weeks)
Unavailable: 5.Osama MALIK (calf – 2 weeks), 20.Paul IZZO (calf – 1 week), 22.Fabio FERREIRA (hamstring – 2-3 weeks), 23.Jordan ELSEY (knee – indefinite)
