Adelaide United will always hold a special place in Brisbane Roar coach Ross Aloisi's heart but he returns to the club he captained to premiership glory with one goal.
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Three A-League Men competition points are up for grabs when the fourth-placed Roar venture to Adelaide, in fifth, on Sunday.
Aloisi was born in Adelaide and captained United to the premiership in the inaugural season of the A-League in 2005/06.
"We won the premiership with three games to go, I think it was, and it was my home town," Aloisi said.
"Playing for your home city was always special and that is why I am very passionate about boys playing from the Brisbane Roar who are from Queensland because I know what it meant to me to play for Adelaide United.
"In saying that, it is another game for us, but I do have a lot of friends there.
"(Current Adelaide coach) Carl Veart is a very, very close friend of mine and (Adelaide assistant coach) Airton Andrioli is also a very close friend and both played different parts in my coaching career, which I am forever grateful for."
Aloisi said it would be "special" to return to Adelaide and see his family and friends but also a trip where securing three points was crucial.
He dismissed any suggestion his will to win would be enhanced against his former club, where he was also an assistant coach.
The focus will be on the Roar taking more of the chances they create. Last week against Western Sydney they drew 2-all but had more shots on goal.
"It is not competitive juices. I am competitive every single day," Aloisi said.
"But it is not about all that. It is about us going there and improving on what we did last week and making sure we stop them on their counter attacks.
"They defend a lot of the time with six players, sometimes seven, but they generally leave three up top and that is where they hurt teams. They are very good at it.
"We created five clear-cut chances (against Wanderers) and some other half-chances compared to their very few."
Aloisi is well aware of what the opposition players have to offer because he coached most of them in his stint as Adelaide United assistant from 2020-2022.
"I had an amazing relationship with those players as well and it was sad to leave," he said.
"But that is where football takes you."
Australian Associated Press
