Marco Kurz and Isaías hailed the team’s resilient mentality ahead of Adelaide United’s clash with Melbourne City on Saturday night.
The Reds’ depth will be tested with several experienced players ruled out through injury, but the pair were upbeat, and looking forward to playing at Coopers Stadium for the first time this campaign.
Adelaide are unbeaten from their first three league matches with five points, most recently playing out a 2-2 draw against Melbourne Victory.
Kurz was philosophical about losing four key players to injury so early in the season.
“These are long-term injuries and not simple in this moment and also players that have high experience and high quality,” he said.
“But that’s the sport and now we’ll make the best out of this situation, I’m looking forward and not negative, I’m very positive.”
But despite the injuries, Kurz insisted the squad remains strong and lauded the team’s temperament.
“I’ve coached in the past a lot of teams with good quality and good mentality,” he said.
“But I think our team have a special quality and special mentality, there’s a good team spirit in the dressing room.
“And I think in our moment that’s very important, we have a lot of injured players and team spirit is very important.
“Because a lot of young players play now and it’s important they feel comfortable on the pitch.”
Not a bad run so far! We need your help to keep it going so get down to Coopers tomorrow! #AUFC #ADLvMCY
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— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 27, 2017
City have won three straight matches and recorded a 1-0 win over Wellington Phoenix last weekend.
Kurz admitted Warren Joyce’s men are a tough team to break down and have a number of strengths.
“We are playing against a very good team, their squad is strong,” he said.
“They have a lot of experienced players in their line-up… Melbourne City play very compact, very disciplined, they’re very good against the ball.
“They’ve two strong midfielders, who can win the duels and they’ve four players in their offence who can create chances.
“I think we’ll have not too many chances and when we have a chance we must finish it well or score a goal.
“Saturday is a hard game for us but we feel comfortable we’ll have a good game.”
Watch to see if @ApostolosStama can score using himself in our #ADLvMCY Round 4 @EASPORTSFIFA 18 match preview with @TheMasterBucks! #AUFC pic.twitter.com/gnigwRnKdz
— Adelaide United (@AdelaideUnited) October 27, 2017
Meanwhile, Isaías, reiterated his boss’ sentiments, stating morale within the squad remained cheerful.
“I think we have a positive mentality in the group,” he said.
“We showed last game (against Western Sydney) when we have eleven players we can beat any team.
“But we need to help each other and encourage each other to play a good game on Saturday.
“And I think everyone is ready, we have twenty three players in the squad and this is why; because we know that during the season we’ll have injuries and these things happen.”
The Spaniard then went on to highlight the importance of trying to nullify City’s wide players.
“They have a few quality players, I cannot say one name,” he said.
“But probably from what I’ve seen in the last few games their two wingers are playing really well and they’re dangerous players.”
Team news
Aforementioned, Kurz’s side have been ravaged by injury in the opening matches to begin the season. Ersan Gülüm is out for the clash with a punctured lung and broken rib sustained against the Victory, while Vince Lia is absent with a knee complaint. Taylor Regan (ankle) and Tarek Elrich (knee) remain the long-term absentees.
Johan Absalonsen is also the latest to be sidelined, forced off the field with a thigh issue in the second-half of the Reds’ 2-1 Westfield FFA Cup Semi-final triumph over Western Sydney Wanderers on Tuesday.
Last five meetings
1-0 loss @ AAMI Park
2-1 win @ Coopers Stadium
2-1 loss @ AAMI Park
4-1 win @ Coopers Stadium
0-2 win @ AAMI Park
Adelaide United host Melbourne City in Round 4 of the Hyundai A-League 2017/18 season on Saturday, 28 October at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
