Adelaide United custodian, Joe Gauci, has declared it’s ‘business as usual’ for a side that has stuck together despite a challenging four weeks.
In a period that has seen a heavy Australia Cup exit and the departure of former captain, Craig Goodwin, to Al Wehda in the Saudi Pro League, Gauci has remained upbeat about the opportunities presented to the squad.
“It’s been business as usual,” Gauci told reporters in Adelaide on Thursday, at a recovery session post-the Reds’ 0-1 friendly win against Melbourne Victory on Wednesday.
“The Cup result was negative, yes, and a bit of a wake-up call but it was the wake-up call we needed at probably the right time.
“It’s given us enough time to really have a look in the mirror as a team and individually and look at where we need to improve, and over the last month or so we’ve been working really hard towards that.
“With Craig leaving it’s just another door that’s opened for someone else to step in and make the most of this opportunity.
‘Yes, he was probably one of the best to ever play for the Club, but at the same time he was once a young player who had to wait for somebody to step aside so he could get his own opportunity.
“Players will step up and fill the shoes.”
Gauci on… who might be relied upon and if the established No. 1 considers himself a leader
“It’s a collective,” said the 23-year-old.
“We’re a team that’s very close and a Club that gets along at all ages without any clicks, so I’d say it’s the responsibility of all of us to continue the leadership and continue to grow.
“We have other senior players of the likes of Isaías who is always leading despite not having the arm band in recent times, and many other players like that.
“I haven’t thought about myself as captain to be honest, but I think at the end of the day my role is naturally a leadership position as I’m someone who can see all the play and my voice is critical on the field.
“I just want to be helping the younger players as it’s the same steps that I took into the first team and playing consistently.”
Gauci on… incoming players
“This Club has had a policy of not only bringing in not only good players, but good people and I think that will be continued over the next 6-12 months,” said the gloveman candidly.
“There has been a lot of people very vocal about our departures and I can understand that, but at the same time we don’t just want to fill holes for the sake of it and don’t fit the style and mould of our football Club.
“And that is the most important thing – we want them to be great resources that can be just as good on the field as they can be off the field with our youth as well.
“Ryan (Tunnicliffe) for example is settling very well and I think Adelaide is just about the furthest you can fly from the UK, but he looked very solid and very vocal in the game yesterday and you can see why he’s played the number of games that he has at the level he has.
“We’ve got other young players that are coming through and it’s just another door that’s opened, and those fantastic young players and attackers get an opportunity now to step up to the A-League.
“You have to get thrown into the deep end to see if you can sink or swim.”
