Adelaide United coach Rini Coolen has scoffed at suggestions his side’s unlikely victory over Sydney FC on Monday is a sign the Reds are destined for championship glory this season.
The visitors trailed 1-0 at the break and appeared in deep trouble early in the second half when key players Sergio van Dijk (knee) and Marcos Flores (hamstring) were forced from the field.
Having drawn level on the back of an own goal from Sydney defender Shannon Cole on the hour, the Reds held firm under the heaviest of fire for the remainder of the match before former Sky Blues young gun Iain Ramsay stole victory in the 91st minute
But while things are looking good for the Reds, who now sit six points clear of Brisbane Roar and Central Coast Mariners atop the Hyundai A-League ladder, Coolen hosed down any talk of a title in 2010/11.
“No that’s much too fast … it’s just one game,” Coolen said.
“I don’t think we’re thinking about the championship, it’s just nine games now.”
“There’s a lot of more games to go, you have to find out about your injuries, you could get problems.”
“Our goal is to qualify us for the finals and that’s a good job, and we’re doing well at the moment but it’s still the start of the season.”
Coolen, who is yet to taste defeat in his first nine games at the helm, admits his side were lucky to get away with their most recent victory over the defending champions.
“I think they (Sydney) normally should win this game, they were much better than us,” Coolen conceded
“I feel sorry for them because they needed the points and they were better to be honest, and that’s not good for us but we were happy that we scored the last goal of course.”
“I’m really happy for the team that if you play a game like this and you’re not happy with the way you play, but if you work so hard and keep on going and try to keep in the game then you get the result that’s really good for them, but we’re not happy with the way we played of course.”
Coolen is especially pleased for Ramsay, who was unwanted by the Sky Blues despite winning the club’s Youth League Player of the Year award last season.
“There’s always something extra if you come from here and you can do something in this game and for him it’s of course fantastic if you score the winning goal,” he said.
“So I’m really happy for him and that’s what he deserves because he works hard for it.”
Meanwhile, the Dutchman admits the FIFA match day break has come at a good time following the injuries to Van Dijk and Flores, who are both in some doubt for the next match against Gold Coast United on Sunday week.
“Normally I prefer to play every week as much as possible,” the coach said.
“We are in a good spot so why should you be happy with a break, but at the moment probably from the injury side it’s good to have a break now.”
