Adelaide United take a 1-1 scoreline back to a sold-out Coopers Stadium on Friday night, with Craig Goodwin and Head Coach Airton Andrioli both adamant the job is still to be done – and that the Reds must “do the talking on the pitch” in front of the Red Army.
Goodwin on his fitness and returning at a crucial time…
“Feeling good. It’s been good to get back in with the team and be involved at a crucial point of the season. To have about three weeks to a month training to get myself back up to sharpness has been much needed.”
Goodwin on being ready to start or impact the game from the bench…
“I’m ready to play whatever role is called upon me. I am fit enough and comfortable enough to play 90 minutes at this stage. But I also know that if my role is coming off the bench, I have a part to play and can have a big impact in this next match.”
Goodwin on the mentality of the group heading into a huge occasion…
“I don’t think they’ll feel that pressure. There’s a particular attitude in this group that perhaps hasn’t been there in the past. There’s a very good focus and a very good maturity that we haven’t had over the last three or four years. I think we have a very focused and mentally ready team going into tomorrow.”
Goodwin on staying level-headed in a sold-out Semi-Final…
“We have to enjoy the occasion and enjoy the crowd. It’s sold out. The atmosphere is probably going to be as good as it’s been at any point in history, given what’s at stake and the chance to play in the Grand Final. We have to use that energy, but remain focused on the job at hand. Not get overawed, not think too much about the noise, not try to do anything extraordinary. We know the way we have to play and our roles within our team and structure, and we have to play that way and feed off the energy the crowd brings.”
Andrioli on squad availability and selection options…
“The whole squad, everyone’s available, everyone’s fit, ready to go. We’ll find out tomorrow who is playing and how we’re playing.”
Andrioli on what’s at stake and the message to the group…
“The message is that we’re close, but we’re not there yet. Nobody wins a football match before by talking – we have to do the talking on the pitch. No favourite for anyone. It’s a 50-50 match.”
Andrioli on embracing the moment — and taking the chance with both hands…
“It’s massive. Not many people gave us a chance to be in the position that we are in, but once something’s in front of you, it’s what you do with that. We need to grab that with two hands. We know the opportunity we have, and now we just have to execute that on the football pitch tomorrow night.”
Andrioli on planning for extra time and the value of depth…
“We’ve got a good headache at the moment. We want to get it over the line in 90 minutes, but we’re analysing all of that. We’re going to put the players on to start that we think can get the result, and if we need to make changes, we’ve got players off the bench who can come on and give us different dynamics and dimensions into our game.”
Andrioli on Coopers, belief, and finishing the job…
“We’ve done everything we could to give direction and point you to certain ways and strategies, but in the end, they have to step onto that pitch in front of our supporters here, not an easy place to come, and get it over the line.”
