'It is not important now' - Amor not thinking about Adelaide contract extension

Michael Huguenin

'It is not important now' - Amor not thinking about Adelaide contract extension image

Adelaide United coach Guillermo Amor insists he is not thinking about his future at the club despite the impending expiry of his contract.

Amor's contract with the Reds expires at the end of the season and with Adelaide's A-League campaign set to finish next week and their AFC Champions League (ACL) hopes hanging by a thread, the Spaniard could be on his way soon.

Speculation arose on Friday night before Adelaide's 1-0 loss away to Melbourne City that the South Australian club are looking to replace Amor with former Fiorentina striker Gabriel Batistuta.

Gabriel Batistuta Fiorentina

Gabriel Batistuta, Fiorentina

But when asked if he would reveal his plans to give Adelaide fans a chance to bid him farewell in next week's final game of the A-League season against Western Sydney Wanderers, the ex-Barcelona midfielder declined.

"I don't think about my future. I prefer to think about Tuesday [against Jeju United]," Amor said.

"It's a very important game - for us it's a final, Tuesday, because if we don't win, we go out [of the ACL]."

The Reds sit bottom of the ACL's Group H with just one point from three games.

Having led Adelaide to their maiden A-League championship in 2015-16, Amor has endured a tough second season as the Reds' coach.

In February, he revealed he had halted negotiations with Adelaide, claiming he didn't "deserve" a contract extension at that time.

Amor has improved Adelaide's form since the start of March - Friday's loss was their first in six matches in all competitions - and insisted he isn't looking to leave.

"I'm happy in Adelaide. I'm happy, my family we are happy there," he said.

Adelaide will depart for South Korea early on Saturday morning and are unlikely to leave with full-back Tarek Elrich, who was stretchered off in the first half at AAMI Park with a knee injury.

Tarek Elrich Melbourne City v Adelaide United A-League 07042017

Tarek Elrich, Adelaide United

Elrich was at the hospital when Amor fronted the media after the game.

"That was the big problem today, more than the game, more than the result, the problem of Tarek," the Spaniard said.

"We wait now, he's getting checked and scanned… it's possible he doesn't come [to South Korea] tomorrow."

 

Michael Huguenin