Adelaide United defender Michael Marrone hopes his former side Melbourne City will regard them as easy-beats when they meet at AAMI Park in Harvey Norman Friday Night Football.
The Reds have endured a frustrating defence of their Hyundai A-League title and are out of Finals Series contention ahead of their visit to the Victorian capital on Friday night.
And in a fixture that’s seen its fair share of emotions between two clubs that have traded players in recent times – an infamous half-time push-and-shove surrounding Stefan Mauk in 2016 went viral – Marrone is looking to put one over his former club who may just underestimate the resurgent Reds, he said.
“Because we can’t make the six, there are going to be teams who look at us at points and want to try and get points of us,” Marrone said on Monday.
“If I was in their position, I’d be looking at us and saying, ‘We want three points off them.’
“Maybe they go a little bit harder and they’re a little bit more exposed at the back and we can get goals,” he said.
REDS REDISCOVER THEIR FORM
Adelaide have undergone a late-season resurgence and are unbeaten in their last four A-League games.
“We didn’t want to finish bottom and we’re not bottom at the moment but we have to keep going to make sure we stay off there.
“The last three or four games, we’ve looked a lot better.
“We needed to play well in the A-League to get some momentum for the Champions League.
“I think that’s started to happen.
“We just need to continue on that way and we’ll be fine,” said Marrone.
NO MORE ON AMOR
Uncertainty continues to swirl over the future of Reds coach Guillermo Amor, who has not yet signed beyond the end of the current Hyundai A-League season.
“I’m probably in an easier situation because I’m signed at the club,” said Marrone.
“It’s probably a little bit more difficult for the players who haven’t signed, who have a couple of months left and aren’t sure what’s going on.
“I’d be happy if the coach stays – it would be really good if he stays on.
“But if he decides not, or the club decides not, that’s the way it is.
“I’m here regardless to play for the club.
“If the coach is here, excellent. Hopefully we find out soon.”
