Young players to get opportunities as the Injury list grows ahead of Saturday’s fixture
Steve Corica spoke this morning as he looks towards Saturday’s clash at Go Media against Melbourne Victory.
Corica was defiant that, despite injury concerns, his squad would be ready to finish the season strong, with only three league games left to play.
Guillermo May and Michael Woud join the injury list ahead of the Melbourne Victory match.
May and Woud join first team regulars, Jake Brimmer and Francis de Vries, on the sidelines.
May was placed under a mandatory eight-day concussion protocol, causing him to miss the game against Victory.
Woud picked up a groin strain during the warmup for the Adelaide United match.
Corica says the injuries will be an opportunity for young players to play a part.
“What it does [injuries] is give other people opportunities, other young players as well might get an opportunity.
“We’ve got the Pro league and Reserves squad to choose from now as well”, says Corica.
The Pro League squad has left to play in Round 5 of the OFC Pro League, with their first match on Sunday against South Melbourne FC.
First team players, Liam Gillion and Adama Coulibaly, have joined the Pro League squad for their set of games in Fiji.
Corica says that letting these players go was a tough decision.
“It is [A tough decision] – they’re [Pro League squad] trying to win that competition over there, and we’re trying to win ours.
“Injuries just force more problems on both teams [squads].”
Corica spoke about his options at Left-Back with de Vries expected to spend the rest of the league season on the sidelines.
“Hiroki [Sakai], Felipe Gallegos, Jake Girdwood-Reich” are options at the position.
Corica even jokingly said, “I might come out of retirement to play there.”
De Vries is set to be a big miss, having played all of Auckland FC’s games before his injury.
Corica was positive about Girdwood-Reich’s stint at the position against Adelaide United.
“He did exactly what I expected him to do, he stopped Dukuly [Yaya Dukuly] from creating chances, he only got beat once by him, when he got the yellow card.”
Girdwood-Reich made way for Sakai just before 70 minutes, who is in search of fitness after a recent calf problem.
“I wanted to get Hiroki [Sakai] on to get him minutes as well, for me, he did a great job.”
Corica spoke more on Sakai following his cameo against Adelaide.
“Hiroki’s good, he got 23 minutes last week, he was fired up obviously, like the rest of the team was, the main thing is, he’s good to go.”
Corica was asked about Sakai’s challenge that earned him a yellow card against Adelaide.
Corica said that Sakai was trying to make a play on the ball.
“He’s [Sakai] normally pretty calm, he’s trying to win the ball. Obviously, he knows himself that it wasn’t a good challenge.
“He apologised to the fans after the game, so that’s the kind of guy he is, very respectful – he’s a top guy.”
Louis Verstraete was asked about Sakai’s challenge, with the midfielder saying that “it was a dark yellow.”
