Adelaide United captain Isaias calls on Reds fans to pack Hindmarsh for A-League season-opener
CAPTAIN Isaias has called on Adelaide United fans to create a red-hot atmosphere for the visit of fierce rival Sydney FC as the club looks to kick-off the A-League season with a bang.
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ISAIAS has called on Adelaide United fans to create a red-hot atmosphere for the visit of Sydney FC as the club looks to kick-off the A-League season with a bang.
The United skipper expected a large and vocal home crowd to pack into Hindmarsh Stadium for Friday night’s competition-opener against the new-look Sky Blues.
He said Adelaide’s passionate supporters might hold the key to downing last summer’s premier and laying a solid foundation for his side’s silverware ambitions.
“For us it’s massive to start the season at home,” Isaias, 31, said.
“If we get a win and we start well, it’s good to build the momentum for the coming weeks.
“We need the support from all the Reds family.
“They are the 12th player for us and when it’s a full house at Hindmarsh, it’s crazy the atmosphere in the stadium.
“Adelaide fans know how to do it and we will see it on Friday.”
The Reds finished a staggering 25 points adrift of runaway league-leader Sydney last campaign, before crashing out in the first week of the finals.
But a resolute 0-0 draw with the 2016/17 champion, despite missing 10 first-team players, sparked a six-match unbeaten home run which drove Adelaide to a playoff berth.
Isaias said making Hindmarsh a fortress again would be key in the round-one fixture, a fortnight out from once more hosting the Sky Blues in the FFA Cup final.
The Spaniard anticipated a familiar approach from the visitors under new coach Steve Corica.
“I think they will have the same kind of playing style,” said Isaias of Sydney, which relinquished star men Bobo, Adrian Mierzejewski and Jordy Buijs over winter.
“They lost important players, but they’ve brought in quality players with experience and they will be strong again.
“Always in the back of our mind is the FFA Cup final in a couple of weeks.
“But first of all we need to start well in the (A-League) season against Sydney.”
Isaias was looking forward to testing himself against the Sky Blues’ new imports including Dutch duo Siem de Jong and Jop van der Linden, as well as English hitman Adam le Fondre.
The midfield general had been encouraged by the pre-season progress of the Reds in boss Marco Kurz’s second year at the helm.
He said recruits such as six-cap Socceroo Ben Halloran and experienced German Mirko Boland would add flair and steel to the United line-up.
“I think our squad is stronger than last season,” said Isaias, entering his sixth campaign at the club.
“We’ve signed very important players this season (and) very high quality players.
“They have experience from overseas and they bring a lot of different things to us.
“We are very excited and very hungry to start (the season) well.”