The beautiful game – with a touch of beast
Adelaide United midfielder Isaias expects beauty in a beast of an A-League grand final against Western Sydney.
The Spaniard says Sunday’s decider at Adelaide Oval will be fierce, but also full of finesse.
“I’m expecting a hard game, a tough game,” Isaias said.
“I expect a beautiful game for us, for them, and also for the fans. It’s a game to enjoy.”
Premiers Adelaide enter the finale in rich form – boasting just one loss from 20 games – as they remarkably recovered from being last and winless after eight rounds.
Isaias said after the sluggish start, every game became a mini-final for the Reds – and thriving under that pressure was now a bonus entering the playoff.
“Our mentality before was to play game by game, every game is a final,” he said.
“And of course this weekend is the biggest final.
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“Absolutely we are excited to play this kind of game.”
The 29-year-old said the grand final would be the biggest game of his career, surpassing his four La Liga appearances and stints in Spain’s second and third divisions.
But he didn’t believe Adelaide would take any great advantage into the grand final, despite being at home and having two days’ extra rest than the Wanderers, who were forced into extra-time to win their semi-final 5-4 against Brisbane.
“It’s true that they played extra-time but they have seven days to recover so I think they don’t have a problem,” Isaias said.
Nonetheless, Reds defender Michael Marrone hopes Western Sydney have already played their biggest game of the season, musing that the thriller was surely sapping for the Wanderers.
“Hopefully they have played their grand final. Hopefully. It was good for it go to extra-time,” Marrone told reporters yesterday.
In contrast to the Wanderers’ win against Brisbane on Sunday, Adelaide waltzed into the grand final with a comfortable 4-1 semi-final triumph against Melbourne City on Friday night – securing two days’ extra rest, and home ground advantage.
“We have been in the position where no-one wants to know us, eight or nine games into the season and sitting bottom of the table,” Marrone said.
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“So we are just going to enjoy this week, definitely.
“You have got to enjoy these moments. They don’t come around too often, especially being at home, so we will enjoy it and prepare ourselves as best we can.”
Adelaide’s form striker Bruce Djite, who scored twice in the semi-final, jogged laps as his United teammates trained lightly on Tuesday.
But Marrone said there was no fitness concern over Djite, leaving Adelaide with just one player unavailable for Sunday’s playoff – Eli Babalj, who had a knee reconstruction early in the season.
“We have been pretty lucky injury-wise, we are leading into a home grand final and really we have only got Eli injured,” he said.
“Apart from that, [coach Guillermo Amor] has got a full squad to pick from.
“So when there is so much competition for places, you really have to perform to keep your spot on the park.”
The Reds have appeared in two previous grand finals, in 2007 and 2009, and lost both to Melbourne Victory – with Marrone an un-used substitute in the most recent.
“I probably took it for granted the first time,” the 29-year-old said.
“But it’s a big deal. It’s a big thing to get into the grand final.
“It’s not easy with this competition being so close. So especially at home, we really have to take advantage of it.”
-AAP
