Adelaide United Head Coach Airton Andrioli says the Reds are ready to rise to the occasion ahead of Saturday night’s Original Rivalry clash with Melbourne Victory, with a predicted sold-out Coopers Stadium set to host the club’s biggest fixture of the season.
Speaking to media, Andrioli reflected on the mood within the group, selection considerations, and what the rivalry means for a squad rich in South Australian talent.
Andrioli on the mood in camp…
“We’re very, very excited. We had a very good week of training. This is one of those weeks where you don’t need to work too hard to motivate players. It’s the most important game on the calendar for us, we play at home, full house, and the boys are ready to go.”
Andrioli on selection and returning options…
“Everyone trained this morning, everyone’s available and everyone’s putting their hand up. Everyone wants to be involved in a game like this, which is understandable. We’ll make a final assessment, but it’s good to have those boys back and to have options to make the right decision.”
Andrioli on Bart’s readiness…
“He hasn’t played for a number of games, so there’s that match conditioning to consider, but he’s trained and looked okay. We’ll make the final call after assessing everything, but it’s good to have him back in contention.”
Andrioli on recruitment and squad planning…
“We never stop looking. A lot of things have to come together- the right player, availability, and what fits within the club financially. If something comes up that can add to our group, we’ll look into it, but at the moment there’s nothing concrete.”
Andrioli on what the Original Rivalry means…
“If you’re not excited to play a game like this, you shouldn’t be in football. It means a lot, especially for a group with so many South Australians. We want to use our home advantage, use our supporters, and get the three points. It doesn’t matter how- we just want the result.”
