Adelaide United goalkeeper Eugene Galekovic leads what is fast becoming one of the best defensive line-ups in the Hyundai A-League.
The 27-year-old earned his keep in the second half of the Reds’ game against the Queensland Roar and is sure to be put to the test again by a Wellington Phoenix line-up who scored twice last weekend.
Galekovic was humble about his Round 2 efforts believing it was his turn to contribute for the team.
“It’s always good to get as little (action) as possible but sometimes you are called upon and you’ve got to do the job,” he said.
“It’s always nice to keep a clean sheet, it would have been nice to play like we did and win 1-0.”
“The way we played wasn’t the best and to get a point out of that game was a good result.”
The fact is United’s defence has never looked safer than it does with Galekovic on the goal-line. The former Melbourne Victory keeper came into the side midway through last season and was part of a few shaky performances.
But things eventually clicked into place and as a result Adelaide hasn’t been beaten in its last 12 games (both A-League and Asian Champions League clashes).
Galekovic said there were a number of factors that have contributed to the improvement.
“When I came …a lot of players were getting injured or suspended,” he said.
“Now that we’ve played a lot together we are getting to know each other’s games a lot better. Sasa (Ognenovski) has come in and he’s steadied the ship as well.”
“We are a lot more solid, obviously in the last game we had a lot of balls in our penalty area and I had a lot of work to do but the boys are playing as a unit.”
Despite the long-term injury to Daniel Beltrame, and the lack of experience held by the club’s other keepers, Galekovic still feels under pressure to perform.
“I came to do a job last year. I was never guaranteed the number one position. My job was to get into the team and do well and that’s the same this year,” he said.
The key defender was given a boost ahead of United’s clash against Phoenix with Australia’s goalkeeper coach Tony Franken offering some advice at the team’s Thursday and Friday training sessions.
Galekovic said it was a positive to have Franken at training.
“It was good to have someone different, a different voice,” he said.
