Adelaide United captain Ryan Kitto says the Reds are embracing the underdog tag as they prepare for Friday night’s do-or-die Isuzu UTE A-League Men Elimination Final against Western United in Tarneit.
After an anxious wait during the final round, Adelaide secured their place in the top six thanks to Melbourne City’s win over Sydney FC — and Kitto says the squad is grateful, refreshed, and determined to make the most of their opportunity.
“We’re very appreciative and we don’t want to take it for granted,” Kitto said. “We’ve worked hard since June 1 to be in this position, and now we’ve got an opportunity we fully believe we deserve.”
With the Reds watching from the sidelines during their final-round bye, Kitto admitted it was a stressful experience — but one the group faced together.
“We were all together watching it,” he said. “I was pretty stressed going there to be honest, but once City went three-nil up before half-time, it made for slightly easier viewing than expected.”
Although Adelaide entered the top six on the final day, Kitto firmly believes they are legitimate contenders.
“We’ve only been outside the top six for two or three weeks all season,” he said. “We’ve beaten every other team in the finals except Auckland — and they haven’t beaten us either. We know when we get our football right, we can match it with anyone.”
Kitto pointed to Adelaide’s recent momentum — including an unbeaten three-game run — and defensive improvements as key reasons for confidence heading into Friday’s knockout match.
“In the last three games, we’ve only conceded three goals — and none against Melbourne City, who are arguably one of the form teams. So that’s a real positive,” he said. “We’ve worked hard on the defensive side of our game. Now it’s about staying switched on for every moment.”
With Archie Goodwin unavailable, Kitto backed Luka Jovanović and the Club’s attacking depth to rise to the occasion.
“Luka’s scored four goals with limited chances this season,” he said. “Whoever gets the nod, we’ve got full belief. This group thrives when the pressure’s on and opportunities are there to be taken.”
When questioned about the venue for Friday night, Kitto said the Reds are ready for the challenge.
“It’s their home ground, so they’ve earned the right to play there,” he said. “From a player’s perspective, it’s a good surface and it’ll be a great spectacle under lights. We’re excited.”
The captain also welcomed the chance for the squad to reset mentally over the past fortnight.
“It was a stressful few weeks, but once we knew our fate, there was a visible shift in energy,” he said. “We used the break to freshen up, have some fun in training, and then ramped it up this week to prepare for finals.”
While the Reds may not be widely tipped to progress, Kitto believes the freedom of being underestimated suits his side perfectly.
“When we play with freedom, we’re a dangerous team,” he said. “Sometimes our biggest challenge is overthinking. But now, we’ve got nothing to lose — and everything to gain.”
The mission is clear: survive and advance.
“Our goal is to go all the way,” Kitto said. “But it starts with Friday night. We’ll give it everything to keep this finals run alive.”
Elimination Final – Isuzu UTE A-League Men
Western United vs Adelaide United
Ironbark Fields, Tarneit
Friday 9 May 2025 | 7:05pm ACST Kick-Off
Live on Paramount+
