Unite Round is here and every Isuzu UTE A-League Head Coach has spoken ahead of their respective matches. aleagues.com.au takes a look at the best from what was said…
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Veart left frustrated as Bernardo pushes for shock Adelaide exit
Adelaide United boss Carl Veart has been dealt a blow on the eve of their Unite Round clash with Sydney FC with news talented young midfielder Bernardo has ruled himself out of selection for the game at Allianz Stadium.
“Bernardo has made himself unavailable for the squad,” revealed Veart at his pre-match press conference. “so we’re just working our way through that at the moment.”
“Look, he just wants his future to go somewhere else.”
Carl Veart on Bernardo’s decision to make himself unavailable for selection
Earlier reports coming out of Adelaide suggested the 19-year-old was on the verge of moving to another A-League club with Veart subsequently confirming the news.
“He wanted to move earlier in the year and we wanted him to stay because he’s a required player,” added Veart. “It’s got to the stage now where we have to explore other options.
“It’s very frustrating. We have a lot of belief in Bernardo. Football is a difficult game and you have your ups and downs and you have to keep pushing yourself to be your best. Unfortunately it hasn’t worked.”
Bernardo has contributed two goals and two assists from eight games this season but was only handed a start in one of those matches, managing just 171 minutes in total.
Veart also confirmed the club were already in the market for a new attacking player and it’s likely that search will only intensify now given the Reds are set to lose another attacking option.
Rodwell suffers another injury set-back as Sky Blues’ casualty list grows
Sydney FC have confirmed experienced defender Jack Rodwell will be out of action for eight weeks after the 32-year-old sustained a calf injury against Brisbane Roar.
“This has obviously happened previously with Jack.” said Talay ahead of their Unite Round clash with Adelaide United. “He’s a great player when he’s on the park and look, it’s disappointing because I think he’s a very influential player for us.
“You’ve seen the last three games that he’s been involved with we’ve got some positive results out of so look, at the end of the day it’s disappointing for us and also for Jack himself but these are opportunities for players to come in and get an opportunity to play.”
Rodwell missed the first seven games of the season due to a hamstring injury and while he did feature for the Sky Blues in their last four matches, the former England international only completed 90 minutes just once before succumbing to his latest setback.
“Well that’s something that we’ve already done,” said Talay when asked whether or not his medical staff would have to modify Rodwell’s training programmes moving forward.
“We modify what he does during the week so that he’s available to play at the weekend. Even before I came in I think they’ve tried different scenarios with Jack.
“It’s one of those things, it’s just the way his body is…”
The former Everton, Manchester City and Sunderland midfielder is a valuable asset for Sydney FC when he’s on the pitch but time is now running out for Rodwell to make an impact on this season, especially with his two-year contract set to expire at the end of the current season.
Meanwhile, Talay also confirmed left back Joel King will join Rodwell on the sidelines for eight weeks after picking up a toe injury while Slovakian international Robert Mak will also be out for up to three weeks after suffering a groin injury in the win over Brisbane.
To make matter worse for Sydney, young central defender Aaron Gurd has also been ruled out of action until March due to a leg injury.
The Sky Blues will once again be forced to shuffle the pack ahead of this weekend’s Unite Round clash with Adelaide United at Allianz Stadium, where they go in search of a fourth-consecutive win.
Adelaide United v Sydney FC
Saturday, January 13 2024
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 8:00pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Paramount+ & 10 Bold
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Folami backed to score more as Poppa calls on ‘sport lovers’ to watch some football
Melbourne Victory boss Tony Popovic has praised the impact Ben Folami has had on the side as Bruno Fornaroli gets set to run out for the Socceroos at the Asian Cup.
The 24-year-old came off the bench to net a dramatic late winner for Victory in their recent 3-2 win away at Perth Glory, a result which sent Popovic’s side top of the Isuzu UTE A-League.
“Benny had a great impact here against Adelaide and continued on with a goal which is an area of his game which he’s working hard on in improving,” said Popovic when discussing Folami’s recent performances.
“He (Folami) certainly has the talent to score more goals and (it was) a wonderful finish that late in the game to get the winner.”
Next up for Victory is a mouth-watering clash against Central Coast Mariners at Allianz Stadium which acts as a double-header on the night with Adelaide United then facing off against Sydney FC to round off Saturday’s action in Unite Round.
“Hopefully we’ll see a lot of people at the game,” said Popovic when discussing the first ever Unite Round. “There’s a match after us as well so you may get a lot of fans from different teams that they’re supporting.
“Hopefully it will just bring sporting lovers out for the games, you know. It’s not just football lovers who you want to entice, you want to entice people that are just interested in good sport.
He continued: “We’ve got a good level in our code and hopefully they’ll come out and watch a game and we get some new fans.
“When you look at our sport it’s the most participated sport in the world. It is the world game, it’s the best game and it’s an opportunity for people to see first-hand what our product is really about.”
Central Coast Mariners v Melbourne Victory
Saturday, January 13 2024
Allianz Stadium
Kick-off: 5:15pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Paramount+ & 10 Bold
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Zawada up and running as confident Kosta continues to fire for the Phoenix
He won’t be fit for Unite Round but star striker Oskar Zawada is edging closer to a return according to Wellington Phoenix Head Coach Giancarlo Italiano.
“Oz (Oskar) is back on feet now,” revealed Italiano. “He’s doing some straight-line running, the fluid is out of his leg so it’s looking promising at the moment.”
The Polish striker, who has four goals in six games this season, hasn’t featured since the ‘Nix were beaten 3-0 at home by Newcastle in early December, missing the club’s last four fixtures.
Zawada suffered a leg contusion which has required constant draining of fluid in order to heal but the Polish forward is now seemingly on the right track and could be back by February.
“I’d expect another two weeks before he’s training fully,” added Italiano. “and then hopefully he’ll be available for that influx of games in February.”
With Zawada out injured many questioned where the goals would come from but ‘Nnix veteran Kosta Barbarouses has stepped up to fill that void, netting six goals in his last four league matches and his boss is delighted to see him back to his best.
“If you look at his performances overall, I think in every game he’s had chances to score,” said Italiano when discussing Barbarouses’ form. “I think the fact that those two goals against Macarthur were well taken gave him the confidence to say ‘this is the old me’ and now I don’t think confidence is an issue.”
Italiano also believes Barbarouses’ excellent performances this season could well be fuelled by a desire to return to the New Zealand national set-up.
“I think he wants to be the best version of himself this year and then hopefully it gives him the form to get back in the All Whites and potentially the (2026) World Cup.”
Perth Glory v Wellington Phoenix
Sunday, January 14 2024
CommBank Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm (AEDT)
Broadcast: Paramount+
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