Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano was numb on Saturday night.
A blockbuster crowd of more than 33,000 fans packed into Sky Stadium for the biggest match in Wellington Phoenix’s Isuzu UTE A-League history with a Grand Final berth on the line.
The stadium erupted when Oskar Zawada came off the bench and equalised in the 99th minute – literally the last kick of regulation time. Unfortunately, the Phoenix fell short in extra time as Melbourne Victory reigned supreme 2-1 on the night and on aggregate.
While the Phoenix’s record-breaking season came to a heart-breaking end, it left Italiano with a certain belief heading into 2024-25 after defying the odds this season.
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“I’m really happy in the sense that I think the group needed this. If they’re going to grow as a group, it’s going to be fuel for next year,” he told reporters.
“We’re going to use this. If we want to be a team that consistently churns and fights for these positions, we really need to make the most of this experience.
“I think a lot of those boys that experienced it today, are going to take it away and use it in order to be successful next year, especially the young guys.”
The Phoenix were tipped to finish bottom by some pundits in 2023-24 with rookie head coach Italiano at the helm.
However, Wellington – with an emphasis on academy products – finished second in the regular season, their best ever finish, while their 54-point haul was the most in the club’s history.
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Italiano, who lamented “uncharacteristic” goals conceded by his team added: “We’ve built that experience now as part of a foundation of a club to move forward.
“Anyone that says we can’t finish in the top two, well we just lean back on this. Anyone that says we can’t match it with Victory for a spot in the Grand Final, we look back to this.
“Little details will get us over next time.”
During the press conference, Italiano said he was in no rush to reflect on the historic season that saw the Phoenix soar to new heights.
“When I got on holidays and have a couple of vinos by myself, the emotion of the season will get to me and I’ll reflect,” he said.
“But for the next week or so, I’ll just take it easy… I haven’t been able to reflect and I probably won’t for a bit.”
Italiano, however, did take time to talk up a rivalry that is set to take New Zealand and the Isuzu UTE A-League by storm next season.
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Auckland FC – led by Sydney FC legend Steve Corica – will enter the competition in 2024-25 and Italiano said: “I think it gives it a different dynamic, and it gives it a natural competitor.
“The best way to equate the way I think is I always saw a rivalry in Oceania between Australia and New Zealand. It was always healthy, and one pushed the other. I think New Zealand for a long time were probably the little brother because of Australia’s success, but I remember so many times that New Zealand pushed Australia, got some big results and knocked them out of qualifying.
“I think the dynamic of having another country with another club and a different way of doing things, it also opens up a market that usually (is) untapped. It’s healthy for the league.
“I think that eventually, expansion (of) A-League might see three or four teams from New Zealand, they might see some more teams from Australia, and potentially some teams from elsewhere in Oceania or Southeast Asia which would make it a really rich feel, and very enticing to watch.”
