Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz believes his Reds journey will not end in Perth against Glory on Friday

Marco Kurz is grateful Adelaide United gave him the chance to coach in the A-League and he is not planning on Friday night’s semi-final in Perth being his last in charge of the Reds.

Marco Kurz current Adelaide United coach. Will this be his last pre match talk to the media? PIC TAIT SCHMAAL.

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Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz seemed a little more reserved than usual on Wednesday, as his team prepared to face hot semi-final favourite Perth Glory in their own back yard.

Considering what Kurz has been put through as a manager since Reds chairman Piet van der Pol told him his contract wasn’t to be renewed, the German could have also been contemplating if his side can continue to defy logic in what could be the upset of this A-League season.

With a grand final berth at stake, the news filtering through that Adelaide had also locked in his potential replacement — Gertjan Verbeek — Kurz could have appeared rattled, but he wasn’t.

Kurz and Verbeek once met as coaches on opposing sides when the German’s then Fortuna Düsseldorf lost to Verbeek’s VfL Bochum 3-1 in the Bundesliga 2 in 2016.

“I’m not angry about it, my job is to finish the season the best I can,” Kurz said.

“If we lose tomorrow everybody will be disappointed for sure but if we think about the season, it’s a fantastic season.

Adelaide United coach leaves what could be his final pre-game media conference in charge of the Reds on Wednesday. Picture: Tait Schmaal

“I remember the first time I met Ante Kovacevic (Adelaide football director) in Munich (in 2017) I didn’t know enough about Australian soccer, about the club and style and they gave me the chance to be part of the A-League.

“I’m thankful for me and my family to have this experience away from home.”

The German said he was still totally focused knowing his Reds are masters of knockout football.

In Kurz’s two years in charge Adelaide has won 10 of 11 do-or-die matches which saw the club earn an FFA Cup trophy last year.

“We don’t need a wake up call, we are ready,’’ Kurz said.

Kurz and his squad flew to Perth on Wednesday and will be training at HBF Park on Thursday.

He expects his men to be refreshed enough to tackle a Glory outfit which has former Socceroo Neil Kilkenny in doubt with an ankle injury after it took Adelaide 120 minutes to see off Melbourne City 1-0 in the elimination final.

Kurz must be on his on best game tactically and as a man manager to beat coach Tony Popovic’s side which has lost twice at home — to Sydney FC 2-1 earlier in the season and to Melbourne Victory 2-0 on March 30.

“We have to stay very compact, we have to work again good against the ball, what we did in the last game,’’ Kurz said.

“We haven’t conceded in the last game, also we need good defensive work and enough creative good runs in our offensive play.

“I think Perth is a well organised team, a very fit team, with a lot of quality in the offensive.

“We must play a fantastic game and in this kind of game in my experience we need a little bit of game luck and a very good referee for both sides.

“Finer details are the key to winning and losing the game.

“We can turn a very good season into a perfect one.”

Kurz took 19 players to Perth claiming some players were suffering from “knocks” and were a “little bit tired.”

Papa Babacar Diawara — a game changer twice since he returning from an 181 day lay off is ready to continue his good work in attack Kurz said.

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