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Shortly after seeing his side to a woeful 4-0 defeat by Melbourne Victory, a frustrated Aurelio Vidmar was quick to lashed out at both club and city. He was just as quick to retract his comments, however, apologising to the club and the people of Adelaide, but all of this is unlikely to help Adelaide escape their downward spiral.
Vidmar attacked his home town, and berated the club, claiming Adelaide United is a club full of politics that “will never win anything until you get rid of that crap.”
On return to Adelaide, Vidmar, who was recently awarded with the Coach of the Year title for the current season, is likely to receive some stern words. He can expect to explain Adelaide’s 6-0 aggregate semi-final loss, as well as his post-game talks, which have whipped up a media storm and might attract a fine.
Although he formally apologised to everyone mentioned in his fierce verbal attack soon after the incident, declaring his love for his hometown and the club, it is likely to have further consequence on the team, and will probably show during their next training session.
Problems like these can cause conflict between players, and an already mentally beaten Adelaide United squad will not easily keep that off their minds over the next few days. The mind doesn’t accept retractions as easily as it does a harsh statement.
This is not helped by the Brazilian Cassio’s two flustered yellow cards that were followed by a rude gesture towards the Melbourne Victory crowd as he left the field.
Melbourne Victory has had a stranglehold over Adelaide United throughout the A-League regular season, beating the Reds in all of their six meetings. This has been credited to their ability to break down Adelaide’s mental barriers, stemming from the 2006-07 Grand Final where Adelaide lost to Melbourne 6-0.
It can also be attributed to Melbourne’s squad strength throughout the year, holding their own at both ends of the season, with what has been called by some an “A-League Dream Team.”
In reality, Adelaide had a healthy lead in the head-to-head statistics, until this season. They now trail by two games.
Adelaide United fans are now unable to blame the team’s lack of rhythm solely on Vidmar’s tactics, after seeing two consecutive matches where the Reds appear beaten from kick-off. It should not matter who they were facing in each game.
With the stigma of “choker” hanging over their heads, due to their inability to perform when it comes to a final, Adelaide United should be hoping to quickly pick themselves up and dust off the cobwebs, and look to their recent successes for inspiration.
After last year’s runs in the AFC Champions League and FIFA Club World Cup that had the whole nation behind them, Adelaide only need to look at the facts to see just how close they are to another chance at international success.
Next Saturday, they play an in-form and confident Queensland Roar in a home preliminary final to decide which team faces Melbourne Victory in the Grand Final. A win gives them automatic passage to the AFC Champions League for the 2010 season, and a rematch against Melbourne Victory.
It’s obvious that Aurelio will want to talk to his team as soon as the next training session, but will need to choose his words carefully. It will also require a rethink of tactics, to throw off those who consider them predictable.
Bringing in changes could lift a weary Adelaide squad and ease the pressure in their minds. It could also help the city of Adelaide sleep easier at night. Queensland Roar coach Frank Farina is sure to be sleeping easier, at least.
If Adelaide were to ever need a professional speech writer, now is the time.
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