After Adelaide United’s 2-1 win over Western United, Carl Veart reflected on the team’s performance, highlighting areas for improvement, particularly in ball possession. He praised Bart Vriends and Jonny Yull, acknowledged strong competition within the squad, and expressed pride in the club’s young players earning national team call-ups.
Carl on the collective performance from Saturday…
“You know, in the first half, their pressure was very good, and we just didn’t find the right solutions at the right times. In the second half, we were a little bit better. There was a bit more space, and we knew that there would be more space after the break. It wasn’t one of our better performances with the ball, but even so, we created enough chances. We could have easily had four or five goals. I’m happy with the win, but there’s still plenty for us to work on in terms of ball possession.”
Carl on the debut of Bart Vriends…
“Bart was very solid. It’s very difficult to come in after being out for such a long time. That was his first full 11v11 game since he’s been here. He hasn’t played in any of our other matches or internal games. It took him 10 or 15 minutes to get used to the speed of the game, but after that, he was solid defensively. That’s why we brought him into the team—his defensive abilities and leadership. You could see that in the second half.”
Carl on the bright cameo from Jonny Yull…
“Look, we’ve always believed Jonny is more of an attacking player because he has that ability to beat people, and he has two great feet. He’s been training exceptionally well over the last few weeks, and it was good to see him take that form into the game tonight. Jonny puts a lot of pressure on himself because he wants to achieve a lot, and we believe in him. If he keeps building on performances like tonight, it won’t be long before he’s in our starting eleven.”
Carl on the healthy competition for places…
“We’re very fortunate at the moment. The whole squad is fit, and we only have two injuries. There are a lot of players pushing to be in the starting eleven, which is exactly what you need for success. We also need those who aren’t starting to have an impact when they come on, and that’s what we saw tonight. I’m very pleased with the whole playing group.”
Carl reflecting on the young boys being called up for their national team camps…
“It’s pleasing for all the young boys. We’ve got quite a few going away this week with the U23s and U20s. It’s a great experience for them. There’s no greater achievement than playing for your national team, and they should be very proud. They’ve done the work and put in the performances to get selected, so we’re proud of them too.”
