7/11/2023 0 Comments Phoenix viewer unavailable(Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)Īttacking midfielder Ben Old remains the only Wellington player unavailable to play Macarthur. It’s an important game that we need to get a result from, and finals football is the same once we get to that.” AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND – APRIL 16: Oskar Zawada of the Phoenix celebrates after scoring a goal during the round 24 A-League Men’s match between Wellington Phoenix and Brisbane Roar at Eden Park, on April 16, 2023, in Auckland, New Zealand. “For me this is a nice rehearsal leading into finals football. I know the group is good enough to get us to where we need to get to. “I know that the group is good enough to get themselves into the top six and then we’ll have a game after that and hopefully a home game and an away game in the finals series. “I haven’t looked at it as our last week. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)ĭespite the form slump, Ufuk Talay is convinced the Nix are a top six side this season, and he hasn’t considered the possibility Saturday’s game could be his last match in charge. “It’s not about being technically gifted it’s just the desire and passion to get through games.” SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – APRIL 21: Calem Nieuwenhof of the Wanderers reacts after scoring a goal during the round 25 A-League Men’s match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Wellington Phoenix at CommBank Stadium, on April 21, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. Sometimes the opponent has got the better of us. “At times we’ve let ourselves down in one-vs-one moments. “What I heavily rely on is our structure defensively and I think that’s been poor and that’s something we definitely have to improve on. “I think the group are smart enough to comprehend what we need to improve on. The Phoenix were held scoreless for the first time this season last Friday night, but most of the concern has been at the other end of the pitch, where the team has conceded 17 goals during their five game winless run. “ it’ll be great to win the game and go into the finals series with a win under your belt.” It’s a totally different mindset the way that you set up and the way that you plan. “It’ll be nice to get a win leading into the playoffs, but the reality is the year we didn’t make the top six we beat Macarthur 3-nil and they ended up getting through to the semis. Three points would also give the Phoenix a confidence boost heading into the finals. “I’m expecting them to come out and try to play and try to win the game as well so it’s very important we go out with the mindset of trying to win the game.” SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 12: Phoenix coach Ufuk Talay watches on during the round 16 A-League Men’s match between Macarthur FC and Wellington Phoenix at Campbelltown Stadium, on February 12, 2023, in Sydney, Australia. I’m sure they don’t want to finish bottom of the table and end the season that way. “I know they will not be happy with where they’re sitting at the moment Macarthur. We’ll go to try to win the game and we’ll adjust accordingly as the game goes. The great thing is that it’s still in our own hands to make the top six. Talay has made it clear they’re “not going there to play for a draw”. “We need to stick to our processes, our principles, our beliefs and what we need to do, and we just need to execute a lot better.” “If we start to be afraid that we’ve lost a few games in a row and we move away from our beliefs it really makes life a lot more difficult. “It’s about sticking to the processes and what we believe in and how we should play the game. “We strongly believe in our processes and that’s what got us through that first year when we lost those games,” he told media on Friday ahead of the team’s flight to Sydney. It’s the team’s worst run since the first five matches of Talay’s inaugural season. The Phoenix visit bottom of the table Macarthur FC on Saturday evening, knowing a draw will secure Wellington a place in the top six of the 2022-23 Isuzu UTE A-League.īut points have been hard to come by for the Nix in recent weeks, with one draw and four defeats from their past five matches. Ufuk Talay is placing faith in his principles as he endeavours to arrest a form slump and guide the Wellington Phoenix to a third finals appearance in four seasons.
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