Adelaide United Head Coach, Carl Veart, has previewed his side’s Semi Final first leg against Central Coast Mariners.
After overseeing the Reds’ final hit-out at Coopers Stadium before Saturday’s clash with the Mariners, Veart spoke to media to discuss the mouth-watering fixture.
Changes to the squad?:
“The side did exceptionally well last week, so I can’t see there being too many changes.
“(Zach Clough) has been fully fit now for the last week-and-a-half.
“We could have played him last week, but we held him back, so he’s fully fit and will take part in the game tomorrow.
“Hiroshi could have started last week, but it wasn’t the way that I wanted to go.
“Last week, I wanted George (Blackwood) to play last week.
“Hiroshi’s 100 per cent fit and he’s been fit now for two-and-a-half weeks.
“We gave him that little, couple-of-week break to freshen up and to make sure that he was ready and good to go for the Finals Series.
Analysing the last Mariners meeting:
“This week was most like the least time we’ve spent on analysis for the whole season.
“We are very confident in what we do and if we do it right we know we’re going to have success.
“That’s all we’re focused on this week – what we can do.
“We don’t look back too much, it’s always looking forward.
“We can look back last year, we beat them in the (elimination) final here last year.
“But that’s football and it’s the best team that turns up on the day.”
Finals football:
“Finals football is completely different (to the regular season) and I think you saw that last week in the way that we played.
“And it’ll be no different tomorrow, we’ll be taking the game a little bit differently.
“It’s a finals game, but it’s not a knockout final, so it’s not quite the same
“It’s important that we get a good result tomorrow as well, but it’s not the end of it.
“Both teams still have a second game to get back into the game.”
Match details:
Isuzu UTE A-League 2022/23 Season – Semi Final (First Leg)
Adelaide United vs Central Coast Mariners
Saturday, 13 May 2023, Kick-off: 7:15pm (ACST)
Coopers Stadium
Isuzu UTE A-League 2022/23 Season – Semi Final (Second Leg)
Central Coast Mariners vs Adelaide United
Saturday, 20 May 2023, Kick-off: 7:15pm (ACST)
Central Coast Stadium
