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Paul Reid returns to Adelaide United

19th February, 2011
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Midfielder Paul Reid made a surprise appearance at Adelaide United just days after walking out of the A-League club.

Reds coach Rini Coolen expects Reid to return to the playing ranks after a reconciliation meeting on Saturday.

Reid withdrew from Adelaide’s side which triumphed 1-0 over Wellington Phoenix in an elimination final on Friday night after a spat with coach Coolen.

But the central midfielder, who wanted to be released to play for Sydney FC in their Asian Champions League campaign, attended the Reds’ recovery session on Saturday.

Coolen reiterated that Reid would not be released to Sydney FC but did not expect “any issue” to linger.

“We won’t release him,” Coolen said on Saturday.

“We need players like him in the squad … he showed already in the whole season that he is important for us.

“That is the reason we keep him here, we can’t lose players.

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“So that is the reason that I hope he will be back on Monday.

“We need everybody, including Reidy … he’s an important player for us.”

Reid was also reportedly angered at being overlooked in Adelaide’s planned starting line-up for the Phoenix final.

“You have to understand and accept, as a professional football player, that sometimes if you are not in the starting XI you can come in and do a great job or maybe you have to play the next one (game),” Coolen said.

“You can’t play with 11 players, you need competition between players and we have to take decisions for what is the best benefit of the team to play with.”

Coolen said he was steadfast in the Reid dispute in a bid to change the club’s culture.

“Together, we want to win something, and for that you need your whole full squad available,” he said.

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“There are always moments when it’s not easy to handle it as a player and we can speak about that, because that is professional football.

“And that is why we are here, we have to take decisions which are the best benefit for the team.

” … It’s all about the team culture and the benefit for our team and our club to take the right decisions.

“And you need a full squad available for the whole year to reach something.

“You need everybody together, and together you are strong, and at the end of the day you win something together.”

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