Ryan Tunnicliffe has revealed his desire to contribute to Adelaide United’s successful start to the season and how the game against Melbourne Victory is one the whole squad will be wanting to win.
Saturday will be the Englishman’s first taste of The Original Rivalry when Adelaide United travels to AAMI Park to face Melbourne Victory.
Tunnicliffe has made two substitute appearances for the Reds this season and scored his first goal in the 6-0 win over Melbourne City at Coopers Stadium last Sunday.
Speaking to media on Thursday, Tunnicliffe also discussed the Reds’ start to the season, how special Adelaide United’s young players are and how this is driving him to improve.
Ryan Tunnicliffe on Adelaide United’s rivalry with Melbourne Victory:
“I’ve tried to learn as much about the club as possible, obviously being here for such a short space of time. I know it’s a rivalry and I know we don’t like them. It’s one where the whole squad will be going into the game and trying to get a win for all the fans and the club.”
Ryan Tunnicliffe on coming to Australia and the Reds start to the season:
“We’ve started the season well and it’s obviously a different challenge for me. It’s probably the first time in my career that, the manager said ‘let’s put a marker on our shoulder – we want to win the league this year’. I think that’s probably the first time I’ve ever had that, trying to win the league in a top division.
“Playing with all these young lads is keeping me young. It’s driving me to do better, to get fitter and try and contribute as much as I possibly can.”
Ryan Tunnicliffe on his fitness:
“I feel like I’ve been getting fitter and stronger. Obviously training with the boys and a couple of games now, three preseason games under my belt.
“But the boys have been playing really well, so I’ve got to patiently wait for my chance. And then when it comes, hopefully I can complete that 90 minutes.”
Ryan Tunnicliffe on Nestory Irankunda’s potential to become a top player:
“I think he’s got a really good chance of being a top, top player.
“He’s got all the athleticism that you need to be a top player. He’s got the natural ability, the one-on-one skills of a striker, so I think if he gets the mental side of it right, listens to the older boys in the team and keeps his feet on the ground, I think the world is his oyster.
“It’s up to us as a group to keep his feet on the ground and let him play with freedom. You’ve seen his performances he’s putting in, the goal he scored. I think he’s got a good chance of being a top, top player.”
Ryan Tunnicliffe on Adelaide United’s young team and the confidence they play with:
“I think it’s incredible what the whole club has done, especially the manager, giving the boys, first and foremost, the confidence to go out and play their game. I think it’s remarkable the job that the clubs done. I’ve never been at a place where there’s so many young players contributing at such a high level and it’s refreshing to see.
“As long as they keep doing the right things for the team, it’s up to us to allow them to play with that flair and freedom. And I think you’ve seen that in the first few games that we’ve played, that helps us massively as a team when you’ve got these boys doing what they can do.”
Adelaide faces Melbourne Victory in Round Three of the Isuzu Ute A-League at AAMI Park on Saturday 4 November from 7:15pm (ACDT) as part of a double header.
