Adelaide United believes it has had a better build-up to the A-League Grand Final than the one it experienced in 2007.
The Reds were the toast of the town that year with the media and crowd getting behind them with a sense of expectation the South Australian team would bring home the silverware.
In contrast, it’s been a subdued lead-in week this time around with the media opportunities kept to a minimum and only die-hard supporters getting their fix at Hindmarsh Stadium.
Coach Aurelio Vidmar, who was assistant coach when United last played in a season decider, said he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“Two years ago it was a really hectic that week. There were a lot of things on, everyone was running around like mad people and trying to get things organised,” he recalled.
“Certainly I feel this week has been really relaxed and not much fanfare and whether that’s because we are going into the game massive underdogs, I don’t know if that has anything to do with it.”
Vidmar said the team was also in better shape than it was in 2007.
“We went into that game with a few injury concerns and Matty Kemp was suspended as well, Greg Owens came in and played left back,” he said.
“Going into this year, certainly Jambo (Scott Jamieson) has got an ankle problem but got through the game without any problems last week and no reoccurrence or swelling during the course of this week.
“We are probably as balanced and as relaxed as we possibly can be.”
The Reds are also hoping they can keep their emotions in check – something they couldn’t achieve back in 2006-07. In a poor show of sportsmanship, the then coach John Kosmina and a range of senior players lost their cool after the 6-0 thrashing.
Vidmar said he’ll be looking for a dignified effort by his boys if they happen to lose on Saturday.
“We are going to have a chat about all those things tomorrow. I will guarantee you there will be no repeats of 2007,” he said.
Adelaide’s final Hindmarsh Stadium press conference on Thursday was littered with laughs and cheeky side comments from the coach.
A chilled Vidmar wouldn’t even bite when asked to respond to Archie Thompson’s confident comments about the Victory’s chances during the week.
“I’ll be totally honest, I haven’t looked at any internet or newspapers this week; I’ve heard it but I haven’t seen it myself so it doesn’t bother me,” he said.
“They have got to do what they think is right and we’ve got to do with what we think is right.”
It’s in stark contrast to a couple of weeks ago when at the same location Vidmar was agitated by reporters’ questions before infamously blowing his stack at the Telstra Dome a few days later.
Vidmar admitted his out-of-character comments may have been a blessing in disguise for the club.
“The players were always tight anyway. (But) Sometimes it’s a bit of a slap in the face to jolt everyone into gear again – it might have worked, who knows?”
