Adelaide United Head Coach, Guillermo Amor and Captain Eugene Galekovic have declared the Reds are primed and ready for their massive Round 14 clash against Melbourne Victory at Coopers Stadium on Saturday.
Old foes will resume hostilities in the match dubbed the #OriginalRivalry, with the Reds looking to exploit a free-scoring Victory outfit in a bid to revive their faltering season.
United’s most recent encounter with the Victory occurred in Round 3 when Tarek Elrich’s sensational equaliser was extinguished by a last-gasp Marco Rojas winner.
The previous matchday saw Adelaide register a hard-fought away point against Wellington Phoenix in a goalless draw, while Kevin Muscat’s side beat the Newcastle Jets 4-2 in Geelong.
Reds’ boss, Amor, admitted if the squad can replicate their corresponding Round 3 performance against the Victory, the result should see the three points remain at Coopers Stadium.
“The squad is very good and is in a good situation,” Amor said. “It’s an important game tomorrow against Melbourne Victory and we’ll try to win.
“The first time we played the Victory (in Round 3), the team played very well and normally it would be three points (for us).
“But in the last minute, in the last action, we lose the game.
“The similar situation happened the week before (in Round 2) against Western Sydney was repeated.
“But this is football, it’s possible if we repeat our performances against the Victory and the Wanderers, we’ll win the game.”
With stifling conditions forecasted for Saturday night’s clash, Amor insists the heat will not have a huge influence on the outcome of proceedings.
“It’s very hot, but this is Australia,” Amor said. “But hopefully it will cool down a little bit (at the time of kick-off).
“It’s the same (conditions) for the Victory, so we’ll do our best.”
That Round 3 loss is Adelaide’s solitary defeat on home soil against their Victorian rivals in nine previous meetings since September 2009.
Meanwhile, United Captain Galekovic believes the team can take confidence from their resilient defensive display over the Phoenix and acknowledged the enormity of the occasion.
“I think last week (against Wellington) was a good step forward, defensively it was very good and we kept a good shape and we stopped them from scoring,” Galekovic revealed.
“Against Melbourne it’s a big game, we have to turn up.
“If we don’t turn up we’ll get done, everyone has to be prepared and ready to go and we give ourselves a good chance.
“The aim is to win every game, that’s been the same message every week.”
The 35-year-old stalwart also praised the strengths of Melbourne, stressing the Reds will have to be wary of their opponent’s attacking threat.
“They’re very good, defensively they don’t concede too many goals, but up front they’re dangerous as well,” Galekovic continued.
“Their front four can be quiet, but then they can pop up at certain times of the game and then win the game for them.
“Besart Berisha, Marco Rojas, Fahid Ben Khalfallah and James Troisi, they’re all good players and know where the goals are.
“So we have to stop them there and in saying that break them down as well and create some chances.”
Adelaide United host Melbourne Victory in Round 14 of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season on Saturday, 7 January at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
