Stenta – “It’s not so much about revenge.”

Reds Head Coach Adrian Stenta shared his thoughts ahead of Adelaide United’s match against Perth Glory at Coopers Stadium on Friday. Stenta discussed the squad’s positive week following their historic win in Sydney, player updates, including the return of our Captain, and the challenges of facing Perth after a tough loss earlier in the season. Here’s what Stenta had to say:

Stenta on the squad’s mood after the Sydney win…

“It’s been really positive week. It’s always good to travel away together and then come away with the result and some points. It really lifts the mood and the spirit of the group. Training has been really positive this week, with the majority of the squad on the track, fit, healthy, and available. It’s been a good week to build towards Perth.”

Stenta on the importance of the Sydney win for the season…

“It’s really important to get that result. We had a similar experience earlier in the season with Newcastle, where we weren’t able to hold on, and it ended in a 3-3 draw, but we responded well from that. It just gives an extra sense of belief and confidence. Against Sydney, we were pretty good for about 60-65 minutes, but we let them back into the game. This week, we’ve focused on how to be a bit more resilient in those moments and manage the game better when needed. To concede the way we did and then go down the other end and look for a winner shows the mental strength of the group. It really shows how driven they are.”

Stenta on facing Perth Glory in a Double Header and if there is a sense of revenge up for grabs…

“It’s not so much about revenge. We just love playing at Coopers, and it’s great to be here. We’ll be here for the next couple of weeks, and I’d encourage as many fans as possible to come and support the women’s team, because they’re worth watching. As for Perth, when we played them in WA, we just felt like we weren’t at our best. We want to rectify that for ourselves. Perth’s been in good form recently, and they made it difficult for us in Perth, so we know this will be a tough game. But we also know we can pose challenges for any team.”

Stenta on the health of the squad and Izzy Hodgson returning to training…

“It’s great to have our captain, Izzy, back and training with the group. She’s been involved in some modified training for the first time this year. Everyone else is fit and healthy and available for selection. We’ll continue to ramp up her return to play, hopefully with some more contact training, and build conditioning over the next few weeks to get her in the squad. It’s a great position to be in because we have players who we feel could be starters. We’re healthy, fit, strong, confident, and really looking forward to each game each week. The internal pressure is great because players know they need to perform.”

Stenta on managing squad competitiveness…

“The competitiveness is positive, and it needs to be there because the games on the weekend are certainly very competitive. All I can do is be honest with players and let them know where they’re at. It’s not about what they need to do to get into the squad; it’s about remaining consistent so that when we do need to call upon someone not currently playing, we have the confidence to bring them in. If they keep pushing and remain consistent, that’s all we can ask for.”

Stenta on Fiona Worts and Dylan Holmes…

“Both Fiona and Dylan are in the frame to play this weekend. Fiona has recovered from her injury, so we’ll assess where she’s at and see if we can get some tactical advantage by having her in the squad. If she’s fit and healthy, we expect to select her. It was good for Dylan to get those 10-15 minutes off the bench. It’s been a long time since she played, so we’re thankful she got through it okay. We know she’ll continue to build and grow into the season, so she’s also available for selection.”