Alessandro Circati motivated by hostile Jakarta atmosphere
Subway Socceroos defender Alessandro Circati is relishing the opportunity that awaits us in Jakarta tomorrow night and believes the atmosphere should fire the team up.
Australia continue their FIFA World Cup 2026™ Qualifying campaign against Indonesia on Tuesday, with over 75,000 fans expected to attend the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
READ MORE: How To Watch: Indonesia v Australia | FIFA World Cup 2026™ Third Round Qualifier
The team have been working hard in training and are fully focused on bouncing back immediately after the disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bahrain on the Gold Coast last Thursday.
Despite the frustrating night at Robina Stadium, Circati impressed in an unfamiliar right-back role with his calmness and composure both on and off the ball, showing a maturity beyond his years.
This is what the 20-year-old had to say when he spoke to the media earlier today in Jakarta.
On the challenge of Indonesia
It's a new game, a different game. Going into it with a free head and improvements always have to be made in all games, even when you win. I'd like to think in this game we can be a bit more creative, a bit braver offensively, and take more risks to create more goal-scoring opportunities.
On Indonesia’s set-up
We've seen them set up in a 5-4-1, bit of a bit of a block. They have some quick players that try to hit us on the counter attack and be dangerous, going forward, catching us when we’re not ready, but we'll make sure that that doesn't happen tomorrow night. We've got to try to find spaces, try to drag them out and and move them into areas where they're not comfortable to be playing. Finding holes and being creative and getting chances on goal.
On how preparations in Indonesia differ from the Gold Coast
It’s quite hot and humid here in Indonesia. We've had three or four days to adapt to that. We're ready to go for it tomorrow night and we've had two good training sessions with high quality, we've gotten used to everything and we know what we're doing.
On playing right-back
Obviously it depends where Arnie chooses to play me, if he chooses to play me - if he plays me right back, then it's completely different. Maybe a bit more offensive, pushing forward and seeing what I can do down the wing or whipping balls in, whereas in a central position, I play how I feel is the right way to play in that moment, depending on how teams come at you and press you. I have played right-back in the past but not at a professional level. In my professional career, I've only played in a back three and a back two, anywhere as a central defender, but I did actually play right-back for the Parma youth team in a few games when we had right backs missing. I can play that position. That's no problem for me. It's good fun. It gives me more freedom and gives me the opportunity to express my ability going forward.
On if he feels more assured playing at centre-back
I feel assured in any position that I play on the field. Obviously being a centre-back, I've got more experience in that position. Playing at right back, I don't feel less assured though. I’ve still got the same confidence playing in that position. Obviously, I’ve still got to get some more experience. Different scenarios always help. So the more games, more scenarios, more experience. So it's purely a matter of time.
On the potential hostile atmosphere of the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium
I think these hostile environments should only fire you up, I don't think it's hostile. I think it should be energy to fuel your fire. It should get you going. It pumps me up. Makes me want to win even more, to go against all these fans who could be tuned against you, just to prove them wrong and to really show them that 70,000 people don't make a difference to how I play.
On the team improving their creativity
We have a lot of creative players who are able to do that. We're just going to try to get it out of them. Obviously, that's not my best attribute. But, when it has to be done, it has to be done. I will try to do that. I'll take a player on, I'll do something different. But we do have creative players, so we are able to do that. And I think we just need to flick the switch to give them confidence to take that risk, to take a player on, take two players on, to get an opportunity on goal rather than if they lose the ball, hammering them. If we lose it, it doesn’t matter, we can regain the ball.
On qualification
In the last round of qualifiers, Japan actually lost the first two so I don't think it's a matter of life or death. Things like this happen in football. Obviously, it's not ideal. I think we have to move on. There's no point in dwelling on the situation. When we play against the big teams - Japan, Saudi Arabia, we go out there to beat him, and it's a head-on-head game, and that's almost worth six points.
On how he’s settled in to the Socceroos team
I’m fitting into the team next to H [Harry Souttar] and the defensive boys well. It's great. They’re all top, top guys and it feels like home. It feels like I've been here for a few years. Obviously, that's not the case, but, so far, so good.
On the experience of meeting Parma fans over in Indonesia
It was great, obviously, receiving love in a country where the opposition people are supposed to be hostile towards us, but it's clear Parma have a well known name around the world, especially here in Indonesia and the fans made themselves known to me. About 20 or 30 of them came to our training session with all their Parma gear. I appreciate it and it's a great memory of mine. I'm sure it will stick with me for a very long time.