Adelaide United Women’s Head Coach, Adrian Stenta, praised his team’s resilience after their magnificent 3-2 win over Brisbane Roar. Stenta highlighted the squad’s mental toughness and is confident their strong form will continue as they build momentum mid-season.
Stenta reacting to the big win in Queensland…
“I’m immensely proud of the playing group for coming to a very difficult place to play against quality opposition. I’m very happy with how we performed and, of course, with the result. I’m pleased the playing group can get those rewards because they deserve it. We came with a very clear game plan, and I thought, for the most part, we executed it really well. We knew Brisbane would always be a threat, as they are a high-scoring team, having scored the most goals in the league this season. I thought we did well to keep them in check and create some quality opportunities going the other way. So, I’m very happy with the day’s work and looking forward to continuing this momentum into the next game.”
Stenta on the team’s resilience to the late pressure from Roar…
“The most pleasing aspect was that we learned from the Newcastle game. We adjusted our mentality and mindset for how we wanted to finish the last 10 to 15 minutes while being in front. We were able to show resilience and progression from just a few games ago. It shows that the team has grit, resilience, and mental toughness this year. It was also pleasing that we managed to get ahead and withstand the late pressure from Brisbane. Both of these factors will stand us in good stead moving forward.”
Stenta on if this was a ‘statement win’…
“I’m not sure if I’d call it a statement win, but it’s certainly an important one. Over the last month, we’ve had a few significant victories against teams near, around, or above us on the table. Anytime you can take three points from a close rival and deny them points, it’s a crucial win. The games we’ve played recently have been big because of the stakes, but also because we’ve earned the right to play in these types of matches. It’s great to be in this position. Our strong away form this season, which hasn’t always been a hallmark of Adelaide United sides, gives us confidence. We know that against any opposition, anywhere, at any time, we give ourselves a good chance of getting a positive result and putting in a strong performance. That breeds a lot of confidence within the group.”
Stenta on the team’s purple patch of form…
“We’ve gained some momentum since the Melbourne City loss. We were just a few seconds away from five straight wins, but it’s still good to go unbeaten in five games. You can see the confidence building in the playing group. We still have several quality players out due to injury or returning from it, which gives us depth this season, and that will help us moving forward. The group is confident, and there’s a great vibe and culture among the players. I’m really happy with where we’ve positioned ourselves as we pass the halfway point of the season. We’ve given ourselves a chance to launch into the second half and see where it takes us.”
Stenta on the team’s performance without Fiona Worts…
“Losing a player like Fiona leading into the game was always going to be tough. She’s been outstanding for us this season, both in terms of scoring and assisting, and in her defensive work rate, leading the line up front. It was great for Chelsie and Erin to step up and contribute to the win today. Chelsie’s form has been building for a while, and she’s been making a real impact over the last few weeks. I’m really happy for her, playing in a slightly different role, a little more central than she’s used to. Her efforts, especially in the 90th minute, show how well she’s doing. Erin has been quality for us all year, even though she’s probably still not at 100% physically with that toe injury. For her to get through over 100 minutes of football after not playing last week just shows her mentality and the kind of player she is. We’re very fortunate to have her in the group.”
Stenta’s call for arms ahead of Marden on Saturday…
We’d really love a big crowd at Marden on Saturday. Saturday is a good day to watch football, and it’s a friendly time slot as well. Hopefully, it won’t be as hot as it was the last time we played there. Western United are good opposition, and our team is in good form. It was great to play in front of a big crowd in Brisbane, with over 3,700 people at Perry Park. It would be amazing if we could get close to that at Marden. I think the team deserves a big crowd at home. They’re worth coming to watch, and we’ll aim to play entertaining and attacking football to ensure those who come out have a great time. We’d love to see as many Reds fans as possible on Saturday.
