Adelaide United Assistant Coach Michele Lastella shared his thoughts ahead of Saturday’s match against Canberra United at Coopers Stadium. Lastella discussed the team’s strong momentum, the return of captain Izzy Hodgson, and what to expect from Canberra. Here’s what Lastella had to say:
Lastella on the team’s recent momentum…
“Yeah, it’s been a really positive week. The girls have been up and about. The mood in the camp is good, and the competition for spots is really high, which is a great position to be in. It’s been a bit of a difference from last season, and the girls are really getting behind each other. We’ve got a squad where players are pushing each other, which is fantastic for the team.”
Lastella on Izzy Hodgson’s return to full training…
“It’s great to have Izzy back. Her leadership on the training track has been fantastic. She’s been dying to get back out there, and you can tell. Having a full 22 players in training this week has added a lot of value for us. The competition is really high, and Izzy’s presence has been important. She’s progressing well, and we’ll see how she’s integrated back into the squad. With the international break coming next week, we’ll likely play a friendly, and she’ll get some minutes, though we’re not sure how many yet.”
Lastella on what to expect from Canberra United…
“Canberra is always a tough opponent. They’ve got some good momentum at the moment, having had some good results in the past month. We expect them to come at us tomorrow, and we know they’ll push us. It’s going to be a tough challenge, but we’re confident in our abilities and excited for the match.”
Lastella on playing at Coopers Stadium…
“Yeah, we love playing at Coopers. The girls enjoy it, and it’s one of the best venues in Australia. Any team that comes to play here loves it, so that can work against us. But at the end of the day, we love playing here, and it’s always special to be part of it. We’re looking forward to tomorrow’s game and having the crowd behind us.”
Lastella on balancing roles with Adelaide United and the NTC program…
“I’ve been doing this for the last five years, and it’s definitely getting more challenging to balance the roles. But I really enjoy it. It’s great to see the girls come through the program, and we know the importance of transitioning from a development setting to a performance-based phase. About 90% of our squad has been part of the NTC program at some stage, and it’s exciting to see them progress.”
Lastella on the pride of seeing players come through the NTC program…
“I love seeing the girls in Adelaide United gear. That’s what they’re striving for, and it’s amazing to see them achieve that. Some players get there faster, some later, and we’ve seen players go off to college and come back, like Lara has done this year. It’s an important process, and I think we’re on the right track. It’s a proud moment for everyone involved when they get to wear that Adelaide United jersey.”
