Adelaide United Head Coach Theo Tsiounis is relishing his first home Original Rivalry as the Reds prepare for a blockbuster double header against Melbourne Victory on Saturday night at Coopers Stadium, with pride, momentum and state bragging rights all on the line.
Tsiounis on the Original Rivalry and the mood in camp…
Really excited. I think the whole club’s excited. The players have been super this week and really looking forward to the challenge. Melbourne Victory have been a strong outfit for a number of years now, so although it’s another game, it’s also a very special one. The Original Rivalry carries a lot of meaning, and we’re really looking forward to it.
Tsiounis on form and confidence heading into the derby…
Definitely. The girls have been training really well, as they always do, and that won’t change leading into this game. The build-up is probably a little bit bigger than a usual fixture, but we’re looking forward to bringing a lot of energy, doing the right things on the pitch, and hopefully walking away with some points.
Tsiounis on Pride Cup and what it represents…
It’s really important. We’ve got a diverse group and we value each individual as they are. That’s a given at this club, and it’s certainly echoed within the women’s program. We’re a group of individuals, but we come together collectively, and it’s something we’re proud to represent.
Tsiounis on the draw in Sydney last week…
It was challenging conditions, but challenging for both sides. I thought we started really well, particularly in the first half, and we created a lot of good opportunities in strong areas but weren’t able to capitalise. It felt like the type of game where one goal would have opened things up. Credit to Sydney, they defended with a lot of desperation. Late in the game, they caused us some problems, but we also had big moments with Erin’s goal being ruled out and a late effort cleared off the line. There were a lot of positives to take from that performance.
Tsiounis on how far the group has come…
Every away game we’ve played, we’ve felt like we’ve deserved something from it. That speaks to the work of the staff and the playing group. We want to win games by design, so we can measure what we’re doing well and what we need to improve. That’s been the narrative all season and will continue to be. We want to be strong technically, tactically, and mentally, both on and off the ball.
Tsiounis on what to expect from Melbourne Victory…
They’ve been very consistent. Jeff’s had them playing some good football this year, and they’ve got some strong individual players. I expect a high-energy game. The last time we played them in Melbourne was very close, and I’d imagine this one will be similar.
Tsiounis on what a rivalry win would mean personally…
It’s always nice, isn’t it? It’s a big game for the state and for the Club. With a full house expected, having the crowd behind us makes a significant difference. We’ll need that noise, and hopefully the girls feed off it and we can walk away with three points.
Tsiounis on Dylan Holmes and squad health…
A few little niggles across the group, but Dylan’s progressing really well. She’s trained fully in the last couple of sessions, which is fantastic to see. She’s a quality person and a quality player, and we’ve missed her. Hopefully we see her back out on the pitch sooner rather than later.
