Adelaide United’s Michael Marrone says retaining talent is key to building on late-season heroics

Michael Marrone says retaining the core of Adelaide United’s playing stocks for next season can ensure the momentum of its late-season heroics will continue under its new coach.

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Michael Marrone says retaining the core of Adelaide United’s playing stocks for next season can ensure the momentum of its late-season heroics will continue under its new coach.

The Reds defender was inspirational as he headed in a stunning extra-time equaliser to take their epic A-League semi-final against Perth Glory to a penalty shootout on Friday night.

But he said the devastation of his side’s spot kick exit in manager Marco Kurz’s final game in charge need not derail hopes of further progress next summer.

“The way that we went out, you’ve got to have a lot of pride in the team,” 209-game veteran Marrone said.

“But regardless of what style you play, you’ve still got to keep a core group of people together.

“When I look back after the grand final we won (in 2016), we lost all these important players and the year after that we really struggled.

Defender Michael Marrone put in an inspired performance during Adelaide United’s A-League semi-final exit to Perth Glory. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

“But you see teams like Sydney FC that keep their group together.

“They win the league and then re-sign most of their group and the next year they come back strong regardless of the coach.

“It’s good that we’ve got a lot of the team already signed up.”

The Reds lost the likes of since returned winger Craig Goodwin, defender Dylan McGowan and attackers Bruce Djite, Bruce Kamau and Pablo Sanchez following their maiden title success.

But they had locked in 18 players for next season as they prepared for life beyond Kurz.

Marrone was among a glut of talents to recommit to the club when he signed a one-year contract extension in March.

Long-term injury victim Baba Diawara, who scored his second goal in three matches in the 3-3 Glory draw, was set to depart, as was suspended forward Ken Ilso.

Adelaide United’s Michael Marrone celebrates his extra-time equaliser against Perth Glory with Reds teammates. Picture: Will Russell/Getty Images

Off-contract full back Scott Galloway appeared destined to join Melbourne City and youngster Apostolos Stamatelopoulos had already agreed to move to expansion club Western United.

But Marrone said the fight shown by his teammates against Perth in its second-straight 120-minute outing in five days, gave him confidence for the future.

“The boys were on their last legs and a lot of them were cramping,” Marrone, 32, said.

“But we’ve gone away from home against the league champs and we’ve stayed with them the whole way.

“It was an amazing feeling when I nodded in the equaliser and I thought the script was starting to be written.

“It just wasn’t to be, but you get a lot of respect from these sorts of games because you just keep coming back.”