The FIFA international weekend break arrived at a welcome time for Adelaide United according to coach Rini Coolen who admitted the week off could potentially have disrupted the Reds rhythm.
Coolen said normally with his side topping the table he would have preferred to have had another hit out after United’s lucky 2-1 away win against Sydney FC but acknowledged the weekend’s rest gave his side time to nurse niggling injuries and freshen up ahead of the Reds’ match against Gold Coast United at Skilled Park on Sunday.
“Normally if you’re doing well then you prefer to play every week, it’s better for every team and every club,” he said.
“But also for us, even when we’re doing well it was better for us to have a break, we have had a few injured players a few problems.”
“So, for us it was really welcomed and we enjoyed a free weekend. After that weekend, last weekend we did a lot of training sessions and we are ready now for the next game.”
Marcos Flores and Sergio van Dijk picked up injuries in the victory against Sydney FC and Flores had been expected to miss at least two weeks of action while van Dijk was doubtful for the following week.
The weekend break means the Reds’ Argentine star will more than likely return after the GC clash after missing only one game while Dutch-born striker, van Dijk, enjoyed an extra week to recover ahead of the trip to the Sunshine state.
Aside from Flores, Coolen will have to make do without Young Socceroo Matthew Leckie who will line up for the U19 national team in the final of the Asian Championship in China against DPR Korea on Sunday.
Coolen admitted the absence of his joint top goalscorer would hurt, but remained tight-lipped on how the Reds attacking third would start.
“We knew already a couple of weeks ago that Leckie wouldn’t be there,” he said.
“We’re really happy for him and the national team that they are in the finals. It is fantastic for them and real good for Australia as well.”
“Flores, we knew he was out for at least this game and he will probably be back next game, I hope but we don’t know for sure.”
“We have to find solutions and we have a few options. We’ve trained with a few options but the end result of that I will keep for myself and tell the players tomorrow in the team talk.”
