Isaias rolled back the years with a vintage performance against Melbourne City – he tells Tom Smithies about why he loves Adelaide United.
Draped across the stand at one end of Coopers Stadium is a homemade banner that simply declares: “Si Senor, Si!” – homage to a piece of commentary that still brings out a smile in Adelaide.
The memorable declaration when Isaias scored in the 2016 Grand Final summed up the Spaniard’s enduring value to United, and at 35 he can still shape his team’s performance when the stakes could scarcely be higher.
Now his side are 90 minutes from the grand final, what would be a remarkable end to this season and the second coming of Isaias in Adelaide after he left, went to the Middle East and decided he preferred the City of Churches.
Wednesday night’s 0-0 draw with Melbourne City in the semi-final first leg showcased a vintage Isaias performance; coaxing his side to play football, play forward, and play (in his case) with a touch of melodrama to stir the pot.
At 35 his longevity is impressive, as much as his ability to rise to the occasion and lead from the front. The triangles Adelaide sought to play, especially as they passed out from the back, very often had him at one of the points bring what he calls a “calm” to the side’s tempo.
“I try always to provide the best of me as a player, and be an experienced player for my team-mates,” he told KEEPUP after the semi-final first leg. “I try to help everyone in every situation, defensively and offensively, and I also try to provide this calm with the ball sometimes that we need when everyone is so excited.
“We try to provide this calm, me or Juande or Javi, the players with a lot of experience in this kind of game. We try to give this calm with the ball and provide this understanding of the game sometimes. So we were very happy with the way that we played this game. And we hope that we can go next Sunday and win over there.”
You can understand why Carl Veart is so happy to have his trio of experienced Spaniards in the dressing room, quietly setting standards as well as guiding the young players studded throughout the squad.
“We’re very fortunate with the three Spanish boys that we’ve got here there – first of all, they’re fantastic guys, you know, they drive a lot of our culture here,” said Veart.
“Their professionalism is exceptional. They look after themselves, and they expect high standards not just of themselves but of all their teammates as well. They’re well loved here by the playing group, and by our supporters, and they just keep doing the job for us every week.”
You can also understand why Adelaide were prepared to give Isaias a three year contract when he re-signed last year, for he is the type of figure – synonymous with a particular club – who should be kept on in some capacity beyond his playing days. He has helped to forge so much of Adelaide’s recent DNA.
“I’m very proud very proud that the way I left, (I could) come back and everyone was really happy and they open their arms and open their hearts again to welcome me back,” he said. “So I’m really happy to be back here and helping again the club to fight to be in another grand final.
“I don’t try to force everyone (in the dressing room) to have the same standards on me. But I I try to demand (of them) the same as I provide every day. I try to give my best every day, everytime in every session.
“So I ask to my team-mates to do the same thing. It’s the minimum that you can ask any player and I think in professional football, I think it’s the most normal thing.
“From my point of view, I think we have an excellent group and everyone is doing their part and everyone is pushing really hard – the players who are playing more minutes, the player who are playing less minutes, everyone is giving their best rest. And I’m very proud to be part of this group.”
As for that three-year contract, Isaias is happy only to look a few days ahead, with an assignment against City to come – possibly followed by the Grand Final.
“You never know in football, you need to live in the present, you cannot think much in the future. Because sometimes you get distracted. And you never know what is going to happen in the future,” he said.
“I try to live in a moment and try to enjoy this moment. And hopefully, yes, I can play another two years and try to help the team as much as possible for the next two years.”
