Adelaide United’s Ninja A-League Coach Adrian Stenta addressed the media ahead of Adelaide United’s trip to Wellington Phoenix this weekend.
Stenta discussed the positive impact of the mid-season break, his reflections on the last game, the squad’s excellent health, and the plans for the upcoming challenge.
Stenta on the mini mid-season break…
“It was twofold. We had several players who had been playing consistently and a high number of minutes, so we used the opportunity to get them fresh. We also played a trial game to give some players who haven’t played as many minutes a chance to get on. It was a really positive week for us to tick a few boxes that the squad needed to tick.”
Stenta on reflecting after the last game…
“I thought it was probably a fair result. We had more of the ball and created good opportunities, but Canberra defended very well and created some excellent goal-scoring chances themselves. It was an entertaining game, and I’m happy with the way we played, especially that we found a way to come back from being one-nil down despite the way we conceded.”
Stenta on Isabel Hodgson’s resilience…
“She’s been fantastic. Over the last two or three seasons, she’s had setbacks in preseason that put her out for a period, yet she remains positive, leads from the front, and contributes positively even when she’s not on the pitch. Her character and resilience are exemplary, and I’m really glad she’s back training and building towards selection. She deserves a positive end to the season.”
Stenta on the Wellington trip…
“Wellington are a team with a very strong home record. They get excellent support and have a run of matches to finish the season—five of their last seven at home. They’ll be looking to make a statement early in that run, and with our third encounter this season, we’re evenly matched. I’m confident that we can get the job done and achieve a positive result.”
Stenta on the talk of Finals…
“At this stage, we’re not really looking ahead. I have decisions to make for this game. The league is very close; one or two wins or losses can shift the table significantly. There are seven games to go, and each presents its own challenges and opportunities. We’re focused on maintaining our good run of form, one game at a time.”
Stenta on team bonding and culture…
“It’s brilliant. We had a team lunch over the weekend at one of our sponsors—thanks to Mylk Bar for hosting us. It was great to spend time together off the pitch, and it was nice that the coaches were invited as well. The strong bond within the group is key to our culture. The initiative is organic; we encourage players to spend time together, and it has naturally developed into a tight-knit group both on and off the field.”
