Adelaide United Head Coach Airton Andrioli and captain Craig Goodwin say the Reds are embracing the challenge of returning to competitive action on the road in Asia, as United prepares to face BG Pathum United in Bangkok.
With the Club playing its first competitive away fixture in Asia in almost a decade, both Andrioli and Goodwin highlighted the importance of adapting to the conditions, trusting the preparation, and delivering against a strong BG Pathum side.
Andrioli on returning to Asia
“We’re extremely excited to be here. We worked very hard last season to put ourselves in this position, and now to see that come to fruition and be here in Bangkok, playing our first competitive away match in Asia for so many years, is exciting. We’re really looking forward to the match.”
Goodwin on the biggest challenge in Bangkok
“The biggest challenge will probably be how we manage the conditions. For most of the players in our squad, it’s their first time playing in this competition. It’s a different climate, against a good team, so it’ll be about how we adapt to that and also to the different style of football that Asian competition brings.”
Andrioli on the threat of BG Pathum United
“We’ve done our analysis on BG Pathum and they’re a very good side. They play very good football, they’ve got a strong squad and plenty of depth, so they can make changes and that makes it difficult to predict exactly how they’ll play. But we’re confident in our game plan. We need to adapt to the conditions, play the way we want to play, and execute that plan.”
Andrioli on adapting to the Bangkok conditions
“It’s obviously different when you come to Asia. The humidity plays a big part and there are a number of challenges for us, alongside playing against a good opposition. But this is where we want to be as a club. We finished second last season and earned the opportunity to be here. Now we want to go as far as we possibly can in this competition.”
Goodwin on using his experience in Asia
“I’ve been through these types of camps before through World Cup qualifying, coming to countries like this and playing in these conditions. Preparation-wise, we’ve done everything we possibly can. The coaching staff have given us everything we need to know about the opposition and we’ve managed the recovery from the travel. We’ve ticked those boxes, so now it comes down to the game and how well we execute the plan.”
Andrioli on leading United on the Asian stage
“I’m extremely proud to be part of this. We’ve been away from Asia for nearly 10 years and the club wanted to be back here. I always feel proud doing this job and very blessed to work with such a strong group of players. We’ve got a very good bond amongst ourselves, and now we’re fully focused on putting in a performance that can give us the result we want.”
Goodwin on the experience within the squad
“Those players who have been here before are always having little conversations throughout the change room and the camp about their experiences. But we can have all the experience in the world — ultimately it comes down to preparation, attitude, application and effort. They’re a good team, but so are we, and we expect to come into this game and get a good result.”
Andrioli on the squad’s readiness
“We’re as ready as we can be. We know the task ahead of us, but we’re also extremely excited. We’ve got a blend of experienced players and young players who bring that excitement. We enjoy playing football, and that’s what we want to do tomorrow night — come here, play good football, execute the game plan and hopefully walk away with a positive result.”
