Adelaide United coach Gertjan Verbeek refuses to concede Reds season is done after another heavy defeat at Hindmarsh
Adelaide United has been hard-hit by the announcement German talent Mirko Boland has signed with another club for next season. It comes as the Reds suffered a heavy loss to Newcastle on Sunday.
Adelaide United
Don't miss out on the headlines from Adelaide United. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Home fans see red as Jets rip into United
- How to get the most out of your Advertiser digital subscription
Adelaide United has been dealt a further blow, with German Mirko Boland signing with VfB Lubeck, starting next season.
The club confirmed Boland’s exit after two years at the Reds on Monday.
The German fourth tier outfit is based in his wife, Natalie’s, hometown.
“After the first exchange with (new teammate) Timo Neumann and his stories about how VfB is looking to the future and what role I should take on, it quickly became clear to me that I really wanted to be part of the whole team,” Boland told German website NDR.
Boland’s pending departure comes just hours after the Reds suffered another poor result at home, crashing to Newcastle Jets 3-0.
Furthermore, coach Gertjan Verbeek says the coronavirus pandemic is taking its toll on worried players.
Verbeek revealed Riley McGree had concerns about being infected after the loss at Hindmarsh Stadium on Sunday.
“In the locker room I asked Riley “what’s wrong” and he said “I’m feeling tired, bad cough and my throat is painful and he called the medical staff and asked if it’s not the symptoms of corona (virus),’’ Verbeek said.
Watch every Hyundai A-League game LIVE & On-Demand on KAYO. New to Kayo? Get your 14-day free trial & start streaming instantly >
“And he (the doctor) said “it isn’t and you don’t have to go to the hospital” but he’s still complaining about the health he wasn’t the same Riley we saw two or three weeks back.”
The Dutchman also refused to concede the Reds season is effectively over despite the threat of the coronavirus suspending the A-League after another horrifying defeat at Hindmarsh.
Adelaide shipped eight goals in its past two home matches after last week’s 5-1 belting to Western United.
The club is seventh after a fourth consecutive loss – on equal points with sixth-placed Western and must face the top five clubs – if the competition stays alive before the finals.
Verbeek was pleased with rookie forwards Mohamed Toure, 15, and Kusini Yengi, 21, who were unleashed in the 63rd minute in a bid to refresh his jaded side.
The pair did add speed to the Reds attacking forays after the Jets had already bagged three goals from Roy O’Donovan, Matthew Millar and Steven Ugarkovic.
“We’re not finished we have five games to go and even though we lost, it was better than last week, it was not good enough,’’ Verbeek said.
“We have a bye next week and that’s helping.
“Hopefully Ben (Halloran) has recovered not from injury from illness, I hope in the last few weeks and there is good competition when the young guys (Yengi and Toure) come in they bring in a lot of energy in the team.
“That’s good but still we have to improve.”
Verbeek said striker Kristian Opseth should also return to action after a kick to the ankle during Saturday’s training session sidelined the Norwegian against the Jets.
And he said dropping 18-year-old Louis D’Arrigo for Mirko Boland in a defensive midfield role on Sunday was also justified after he also axed Michael Maria for Ryan Kitto.
Maria replaced Kitto at left back in the 63rd minute.
“I wasn’t satisfied about the team from last week and Louis didn’t play well,’’ Verbeek said.
“It was not only him but there was several players and I think it was the moment for Boland who was several times out with injury and he trained very well and was competing with Louis.
“And if you don’t play well, it’s easy for the trainer (coach) to change the team but now there’s a reason why Louis didn’t play but he wasn’t the only one.”