At the Club’s 2019/20 Season Launch, Gertjan Verbeek discussed how he has settled into life at Adelaide United and revealed he will put his faith in youth when required during the season.
The Dutchman was announced as the new Reds Head Coach in May before landing in Australia in late June.
Verbeek said the relaxed lifestyle of Adelaide has made it a comfortable transition for himself and his family.
“I’m feeling fine with the Club with what we have done up until now,” Verbeek said at the Adelaide Convention Centre on Friday night.
“I’ve been here for more than three months and the rhythm of the life in Adelaide is good.
“I have a nice place near the beach I found with my daughter and my wife and they’re enjoying Adelaide.
“The pre-season is almost over now and I’m looking forward to the start of the competition.”
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Having managed in Europe his entire career prior to signing a two-year deal with Adelaide, Verbeek admitted the long pre-season has been rather unique.
“Normally in Europe you have four weeks holiday and you have pre-season for five or six weeks and then the competition starts,” he said.
“And if you qualify for European football then it’s even shorter and you play in those five weeks 10 to 12 friendly games.
“And here I didn’t play 10 games in the pre-season which went for three months so that’s quite different.”
United also recently returned from a Victoria training camp which saw them play three matches in five days.
One of the friendly games was against new franchise Western United in Ballarat, while the other two occurred against Melbourne City on the same day with different squads.
Adelaide are also into another FFA Cup Semi-final which will see the reigning Champions face Central Coast Mariners in Gosford on Wednesday.
“We’ve trained a lot with the team members we have and we have done a good job I think,” he stated.
“The last two games we played against Melbourne City was in a little trip in Melbourne where we played three games.
“We did well but we can still improve.”
Verbeek also spoke about the balance of mixing youth with experience in the squad, and that he would give the young players in the team the opportunity to prove themselves when a regular in a respective position is absent.
Throughout the pre-season and in the FFA Cup matches, the 57-year-old has given opportunities to several promising youngsters.
Al Hassan Toure is one of those players that has taken full advantage of his chance, blossoming under the former AZ Alkmaar boss’ tutelage.
Toure, who was promoted from the Club’s Youth Team in August, has impressed scoring four goals in three cup matches.
“I’m a trainer that likes to have stability, so I like to train with a bigger group, so 24, 25 or 26 players,” he revealed.
“So every time in the week I can play 11 against 11 and it’s not so difficult to coach the team.
“When your left-back or your left winger is injured or suspended the second man in charge will get his chance.
“And I don’t want to bring the right-back to the left side and change everything.
“No. The young kid will get his chance and see how he’s doing because he has to make minutes to improve himself and he’ll get chances I’m sure.”
Adelaide United face Central Coast Mariners in the Semi-finals of the FFA Cup 2019 on Wednesday, 2 October at Central Coast Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.00pm ACST. Live and Exclusive on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.
