Adelaide United out to attack in ACL tonight

Adelaide United head coach Joe Mullen says an attacking mindset is the only thing that will get the Reds a win in the Asian Champions League tonight.

The Reds host South Korean outfit and reigning Asian champions Pohang Steelers at Hindmarsh Stadium and Mullen wants to kick the campaign off with a win by playing positively.

“At home we want to win the game and get off to a good start, and you can’t have that with a defensive mindset,” Mullen said.

“We’d like to go to try to win this game. Certainly acquisitions like a Marcos Flores will add that, and we think we’ve got good offensive players out wide, so it will be important that we have an attacking flavour tomorrow night.

“We know that the Koreans are very well prepared physically, we also know that tactically they are very good and technically they’re amongst the best in the world, so we need to respect that, but I think tomorrow night is about us and how we prepare ourselves for that game.”

Mullen said the inclusions of Flores along with former Brisbane Roar striker Sergio van Dijk, ex-Newcastle Jets & Gold Coast United midfielder Adam Griffiths and former Central Coast Mariners defender Nigel Boogaard will be a major boost for the team.

“It’s a great position to be in. The acquisitions of the players we’ve got into the squad have done the squad no ends of good,” Mullen added.

“They’re good quality characters, good quality players and I think it’s going to be good for the club.”

Mullen has been given the title role from usual coach Aurelio Vidmar because the former Socceroo has not completed necessary qualifications to coach in the ACL but the acting head coach said Vidmar would be involved as much as possible.

“Aurelio will be involved as much as he can be. We know exactly what the situation is in terms of the coaching he is doing. He’s very much involved in preparing this team, which is very critical to our success, and he’ll be involved alongside me tomorrow night,” Mullen said.