Adelaide keen to take advantage of ‘soft’ Pohang Steelers

Adelaide United coach Aurelio Vidmar says the club is planning to take advantage of a Pohang Steelers side who may not yet be match-hardened.

The Reds host the reigning Asian champions on Wednesday night in the first group stage match of the Asian Champions League and the fact that the K-League has not yet started leads Vidmar to believes that the opposition players will not be battle ready, as his players are.

He also said the Australian summer may have a part to play.

“They won't be used to the heat," Vidmar said.

"But they've come here quite early from the last time we've played them here.

"Although they might be cold certainly in terms of being match-hardened, they're probably not at that level just yet.

"That might be a good opportunity for us to take advantage. We've got to put good pressure on them and not let them settle."

But Vidmar admitted said some of his players were in different stages of fitness as they had just joined the team or had been playing the entire A-League season.

“They're all in different stages of fitness," he said.
"(Sergio) Van Dijk and (Nigel) Boogaard came through a full A-League season and Marcos Flores featured in his first game last week.

“Adam Griffiths hasn't played for many months and although he's a good physical specimen he needs some serious match rhythm."