Adelaide United Head Coach Carl Veart has called on fans to replicate the incredible support they showed during Saturday’s win against Melbourne Victory as the team prepares for a crucial top-of-the-table clash against Auckland FC on Wednesday night.
Veart emphasised the profound impact the supporters have on the team’s performance, noting that the atmosphere at Coopers Stadium gives the players an extra edge as they push for continued success in the season.
Veart on team morale…
“It’s very good, and it has been good all season. It’s important that we keep our focus on what we want to achieve at the end of the season. We’re just coming up to the halfway mark now, so there’s still a lot of work to go, but we’re very happy with how we’ve performed to this point.”
Veart on avoiding overconfidence…
“It’s going to be a big game, similar to Saturday, with a lot of pressure. We’ve been working on this, and Auckland is a very good side, defensively well-organised. It’s going to be a big battle, and we need every player to stand up.”
Veart on short turnaround preparation…
“We’ve been focussed mostly on recovery. We had a couple of boys who were quite sore from the Victory game, so they’ve had extra recovery. It’s a short turnaround, so we haven’t had much time to train. It’s more about making sure we get the boys as fresh as we can for tomorrow night.”
Veart on squad rotation and potential changes…
“There will be a couple of changes. I think it’s important, especially against a side that works as hard as Auckland, that we’re fresh. We’ve tried to freshen up all the players from the Victory game.”
Veart on Kitto’s availability…
“He pulled up a little sore after the game, like three or four others. He’s had extra recovery and also has a few things on his plate at the moment. We’ll reassess tomorrow with the whole playing group and make the final decision.”
Veart on the goalkeeping situation…
“Ethan did very well on Saturday night, making some really important saves. Deli was touch and go for the game, and we’ve been light on his training this week to hopefully get him ready for tomorrow.”
Veart on capitalising on Auckland’s fatigue:
“It’s important that we start the game and play at a high tempo. As you said, it’s a long trip from Auckland to here, and they had the short turnaround, same as us. So, it’s crucial for us to make sure that we play with good tempo and keep the pressure on.”
Veart on fan support…
“It’s a huge lift. It’s one of the best stadiums in the country for football, and when our supporters come out in force, you can see the intensity we play with. It would be fantastic to have a lot of supporters tomorrow night.”
Veart on the development of young players…
“A lot of the younger boys that are playing have been with the club for a long time, and we’re starting to see the benefits of that. At the moment, we’ve got great energy in the team, and it’s important that we keep that energy and keep pushing forward.”
Veart on the January transfer window and squad retention…
“Yes, I believe we’ll keep the squad together this summer. We always have one eye open to see if we can bring in reinforcements to strengthen the team. You never know with the young players if offers come that are good for the club, but it’s part of our mantra to develop these young players and move them on to bigger clubs overseas.”
Veart on the temptation for young players to stay with the team when leading the League…
“It’s always easier to keep players when you’re top of the league. Winning a title is a huge carrot for young players, but ultimately, if big opportunities come for them, we’ll look at it. For now, I think they’re focused on pushing for success with the club.”
