Reigning A-League champions Adelaide United are set to field are youthful team in Wednesday’s FFA Cup tie against Queensland club Redlands United.
After claiming a maiden A-League title in May, much of the spine of United’s double-winning team has been ripped out, with Craig Goodwin (Sparta Rotterdam), Bruce Djite (Suwon FC), Stefan Mauk (NEC Nijmegen), Bruce Kamau (Melbourne City) and Pablo Sanchez (Llagostera) all moving on.
Adelaide have since signed Ben Garuccio, Marc Marino and Jesse Makarounas, but will be left with just 13 fit players for the clash with NPL side Redlands. Stars including Michael Marrone (Achilles) and Sergio Cirio (broken foot) are unavailable with injury.
United skipper Eugene Galekovic believes the club’s younger players will be handed opportunities in the first team.
“All week, for whoever plays, the focus has been to get the job done. That’s all the players can worry about,” Galekovic said.
“It gives other players opportunities … I think a lot of young boys will get an opportunity.
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“Defensively we’ve got a lot of experience, but I think the front three, they’re either young or playing out of position. There’s a role to play for everyone and our aim is to play those roles.
“There’s going to be a lot of young boys up there (in the final third), so us experienced boys will try to help out as much as we can.
“We’ve always said we try to defend from the front and attack from the back, so if we play out from the back, play our way, I hope that makes it easier for the front three.”
Guillermo Amor’s team will be looking for their second FFA Cup in three instalments after claiming the inaugural edition of the competition.
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