Adelaide United coach Marco Kurz will need to bring balance to his squad against Newcastle

IF ever there is a time that Adelaide United’s squad needs to look up to the boss Marco Kurz for guidance — it’s right now.

Nathaniel Atkinson and Daniel Adlung compete for the ball during last week’s draw.

IF EVER there was a time Adelaide United’s squad needs to look up to the boss Marco Kurz for guidance — it’s right now.

Kurz is certain to be the soothing voice as United prepares to host second-positioned Newcastle Jets at Hindmarsh Stadium on Friday night.

Kurz’s glorious past as a first-class Bundesliga centre-back, winning a UEFA Cup with super tight defending and then a coach who knows how to handle the unforgiving pressure of German football, is bound to give the Adelaide balance from all perspectives.

With Kurz adamant his philosophy is all about attack, he knows how vital a good defence needs to be in order for a team to succeed, especially with Adelaide struggling for goals this season.

“I think if you have a good defence, in the past in a lot of tournaments it’s a big reason to go and win a title,’’ Kurz said after training session at Hindmarsh Stadium on Thursday.

“In my experience in my active career with Schalke we won the UEFA Cup with most results 1-0 (wins).”

Kurz, however, said he would rather be sitting fifth than two points down in seventh place like Brisbane or eighth like Perth Glory, which is four points behind the Reds.

“For me I like the pressure,’’ Kurz said.

“But how do you think Perth or Brisbane (must feel)?

“They must wait for a mistake from our side or Western Sydney (sixth).”

The German also declared every player except Baba Diawara is up for selection, again encouraging Adelaide to be very cautious against a rampant Jets outfit.

United is the second most offensive side in the competition with 249 shots at goal — only Jets are better with 254.

Kurz also acknowledged Jets 47 goals this season for an 18.5 per cent conversion rate is why coach Ernie Merrick’s side is high up the table.

Adelaide’s 25 goals in 23 matches for a 10 per cent conversion rate is equal lowest in the A-League and has been the side’s weakness all season.

Kurz put Adelaide’s lack of goals down to poor finishing rather than good defending from opposition sides.

“I think it’s the quality in the last pass or the quality in the final shot,’’ Kurz said about why Adelaide was so bad in front of goal this season.

“Sometimes the experience, to stay calm on the ball, but for me it’s better to know that we have the chances.

“As a coach it’s not so good if you don’t score goals and you don’t create chances.”

Kurz’s Adelaide lost both league matches to Jets 2-1 this season after beating Merrick’s side 1-0 in the FFA Cup at Marden last winter.

Kurz lamented Adelaide’s recent loss to Jets after two controversial decisions – an off-side goal and a penalty – was cruel away after United made two horror defensive errors, one from a set piece and the other from a pass back to hand Jets all points at Hindmarsh.

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