Adelaide United defender Ben Garuccio maintains grinding out results will be pivotal in propelling the Reds up the table, ahead of the club’s important Round 12 Boxing Day encounter with Sydney FC at Coopers Stadium.
The 21-year-old Adelaide local has been a revelation following his arrival from Melbourne City during the offseason, playing every minute of every match this season.
“It’s good to be back at home with my parents, I moved out when I was 14 so it’s nice to come back,” Garuccio said.
“My form’s been good I think I’ve had a good run of games so that’s what I’ve been most happy with.
“I think coming here to Adelaide that’s basically all I could’ve asked for and the coach has put full faith in me.
“I’ve played every minute so far so I’ve really enjoyed it, obviously the results haven’t been the best for us but that’s something we have to turn around as a collective.”
However, despite Garuccio’s auspicious form in Red this campaign since joining the club, he still admits he has plenty of room for improvement.
“I think it’s definitely the most consistently I’ve played in the A-League, I think I’ve still got a lot of improvement to do,” Garuccio said.
“I think I’ve been better with the ball this year and using the ball a little bit better, but my defensive game can still definitely improve.
“So that’s something to build on for the year to come whether I’m left-back or on the wing, but just doing my best part for the team.”
Garuccio also believes the key to turning the Reds’ stuttering title defence around is by learning to “grind out results”.
“I just think it’s about putting a win on the board and it’s not always doing it pretty,” Garuccio continued.
“Other games that I’ve watched this year (in the Hyundai A-League), I think there’s no way some of the other teams are playing better football than us.
“Yet they’re maybe getting ugly wins, wins at home just really gritting out.
“I think we just have to grind out results a little bit better and Sydney FC at home, we matched it with them away, there’s no reason why we can’t win at home.
“I think it’s good for the fans to renew their hope in the team, obviously I hope they’re not losing any faith, we’re definitely not losing the faith, we’re still one hundred per cent confident.”
With United defender Michael Marrone returning from injury, Garuccio confessed the increased competition for places in the team can only be beneficial to the squad.
“It’s obviously very difficult, even if you’re playing well you don’t know if you’re going to be playing the next week,” he said.
“So obviously with Micky (Marrone) coming back for me especially, I’m a full-back there’s myself Tarek (Elrich) and Micky and there’s also a couple of younger boys such as Mark Ochieng doing well in training.
“So you’re never safe and you’ve to perform every week and I think that’s a good incentive to have in the team.”
Adelaide United host Sydney FC in Round 12 of the Hyundai A-League 2016/17 season on Monday, 26 December at Coopers Stadium. Kick-off is at 7.20pm ACDT.
