Head Coach, Guillermo Amor, and defender, Taylor Regan, are expecting a difficult encounter against South Korean outfit Jeju United in their third Group H clash on Wednesday night.
The Reds will be desperate for a victory in the Asian Champions League after suffering two defeats from their first two matches.
Wednesday night’s clash with Jeju will be the first meeting between the two sides, and Amor and Regan are aware of the quality the away team pose.
Amor said the squad have recuperated well and raring to go following a 10-day break after playing three matches in quick succession.
“We played against (Melbourne) Victory, in China (against Jiangsu Sunning) and then Western Sydney,” Amor said.
“But we didn’t play last weekend which is good for us, we recovered well.
“In this moment we’ve recovered well, and we’ve worked very well this week the training has been fantastic.
“We need to win because at the moment we have zero points.”
The Spanish tactician also praised Riley McGree following the announcement the 18-year-old was included in the Socceroos’ 23-man squad for the impending 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Iraq and the United Arab Emirates.
“I think it’s very good news, naturally he deserves this opportunity because he’s playing well,” Amor said.
“He’s playing at a high level after an exciting year and he’s young and has a long career in front of him.
“He’s playing fantastic and dominates in the middle (of the field) and he plays against men who are 30 and there’s no difference.”
Regan, fresh from signing a new two-year contract extension, warned United must be wary of Jeju’s threat in the air.
“We’ve done our research on them and they’ve got some big boys,” Regan said.
“So we’ve to stop their service to the strikers in the air.
“They’re going to get chances to cross the ball and that’s my task and Dylan’s task to put them off.
“But they’re going to be a tough opponent.”
But Jeju will have to make history if they are to beat Adelaide, as the Reds have never lost to a Korean side on home soil, winning three and drawing two clashes.
Regan also admitted it will be crucial the Reds start proceedings the stronger of the two sides and take the game to Jeju.
“You get a goal and you be confident,” he said.
“We’ve to take some risk a 0-0 draw or a 1-1 draw is no good for us, we need three points.
“So we go out there and we try and move the ball quick and we try.
“And get the ball into opportunities and areas where Baba (Diawara) and players like this can get on the end of it.
“He’s really good in the air so if we can utilise that and then get our creative players around him I think we go a long way to getting the chocolates.”
Adelaide United host Jeju United in their third AFC Champions League 2017 group stage match on Wednesday, 15 March at Hindmarsh Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.30pm ACDT.
