Unite Round takes centre stage this weekend with all SIX Isuzu UTE A-League matches taking place at Sydney’s Allianz Stadium. Ahead of the games, aleagues.com.au takes a look at some of the best lines from this week’s media conferences…
Phoenix keen to move past Semi-Final heartbreak as Chiefy reveals tactical dream
Wellington Phoenix aren’t going in search of revenge this weekend when they face Melbourne Victory on Sunday afternoon at Allianz Stadium.
An extra time header from Chris Ikonomidis ultimately broke Phoenix hearts at a packed out Sky Stadium with Victory going on to reach the Grand Final at the home side’s expense.
However six months on, Wellington head coach Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano says that heartbreaking defeat is well and truly in the past and he won’t be referring back to it.
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“Look, me speaking personally – you’d have to ask the players as they might have a different idea – but that game for me now is long gone,” said Italiano.
“You know, that was last year’s team, that was Poppa’s (Tony Popovic’s) team. Completely different feel.
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“This is Paddy’s (Victory head coach Patrick Kisnorbo’s) team now. Different ideas, they’re playing in a different way. It will be good to play.
“I think they’re deservedly at the top of the table. They’ve been very good in all their games. I think they’ve got a very experienced squad. They’ve got some really good young players, (Ryan) Teague, (Jordi) Valadon, you know, they run the midfield quite well.
He added: “(They’ve) got some very good defenders, and again, their players up top are very effective.”
The Phoenix head into their Unite Round clash at Allianz Stadium with high spirits following the excellent away win over reigning Champions Central Coast Mariners in Round 4.
Goals from Hideki Ishige, Kosta Barbarouses and Sam Sutton sealed an emphatic 3-0 win on the road for the ‘Nix, further highlighting the progress the side is looking to make after recording their best ever season in 2023-24.
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In fact, before the new campaign had even begun Italiano described how the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season would be more about ‘evolution’ than ‘revolution’, and his tactical set-ups – particularly around the use of his wide players – are beginning to bare fruit.
“I think it’s more to do with the change in in our build up philosophy,” said Chiefy, when asked how he’s able to get the best out of the likes of Sam Sutton in an attacking sense.
“We feel like most teams defend the central players, like the ‘pocket players’ or the 10’s or the nines or designated wingers very closely.
He added: “So late runs from full backs and so on, actually can be the most dangerous players, so we’re trying to incorporate that in the way we play. Also, when we play a five the wing backs need to get forward in order to be attacking outlets.
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“When we play a 4-5-1, for example, (or) 4-3-3, if we have a player rotating, the full back can work in a higher position.”
Forever looking for ways to be tactically flexible, Chiefy though admits his creative thinking does have limits…
“Yeah, probably the centre backs is where I stop,” laughed Italiano.
“I like for them to stay in their position, but pretty much it’s free reign. With a lot of the players it really comes down to vision, really comes down to football awareness.
“I mean, if you watch Inter Milan with (Francesco) Acerbi, the right sided centre back, he attacks in the 10 and makes forward runs. I’d love to get to that stage! I just think it’s building the players confidence and more more importantly, awareness.
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Friends on the course but enemies on the pitch – Sydney star’s golfing bogey
Sydney FC defender Jordan Courtney-Perkins admits playing golf with Western Sydney Wanderers duo Juan Mata and Marcus Antonsson in the lead-up to this weekend’s Sydney Derby probably wasn’t the best look.
An avid golfer, the in-form Sky Blues defender took to the course with team mate Joe Lolley, former Sydney FC-turned-Macarthur Bulls man Luke Brattan and the Wanderers pair earlier this week.
Despite receiving little to no backlash on the matter, the question was still put to Courtney-Perkins at the Unite Round media conference on Thursday afternoon as to whether or not he thought it was appropriate.
His response was steadfast.
“I spoke with a couple of people at training, and maybe the timing of it wasn’t ideal,” said Courtney-Perkins. “That’s probably something I should have thought about.
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‘It’s a lack of judgement from me. At the end of the day, we all have lives outside of football and mine certainly involves a lot of golf.
“But that certainly doesn’t change how I approach the game or my mentality going into the game.
“As soon as that whistle blows, I’m honoured to wear this jersey and I still hate the Wanderers.”
All eyes will no doubt be on they Sydney FC players and any potential golf swing celebrations should they manage to find the back of the net in this weekend’s Derby.
Corica hoping to prolong ‘perfect’ start as Auckland FC return to action: ‘We’ve got records to break’
Auckland FC boss Steve Corica says his side are incredibly motivated by the opportunity to make history as they return to action in Unite Round against Macarthur Bulls.
The Black Knights have enjoyed a prolonged early-season break from Isuzu UTE A-League action having not played since Round 3 due to having the bye before the recent international break.
With three wins from three and yet to concede a goal Corica’s side found themselves top of the table before being overtaken by Melbourne Victory last week and says his men are itching to prolong their winning run.
“It’s been a perfect start really so I can’t complain,” said Corica when addressing the media before the Unite Round clash with the Bulls.
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“I just want it to continue. Obviously, we’ve worked hard, the boys are getting better as well, they’re starting to get to know each other more. So hopefully that gel will come into the games and we’ll score more goals.
“Defensively, they’ve been amazing. We need to continue that. We don’t want to take the foot off the pedal at all.
“Macarthur (have) got a very good front four and we they’ve got pace as well, (a) good striker and you know, we’re aware of that. It’s going to be a tough game, but it’s challenging as well for us.
“We’ve got records to break as well. If we can get another win, we’ll be the most – four wins in a row (for a new club in the Isuzu UTE A-League), another clean sheet – we’re all on our own with that as well, four in a row.
“So there’s stuff that we want to try and do and achieve and make history.”
Given it’s their first year in existence there are sure to be plenty of ‘firsts’ for Steve Corica and his Auckland FC charges this season.
Until now, the Black Knights’ three wins this season have come at home against Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC respectively while their third victory saw them defeat rivals Wellington Phoenix in the New Zealand capital.
However the club will now play it’s first away game on Australia soil this weekend as part of Unite Round meaning the Auckland FC squad will factor in the first of 12 Trans-Tasman flights into their matchday preparations.
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“That’s part and parcel, you know. That was the deal when we came here. We knew that was going to be difficult,” said Corica.
“But we’re not making it a big deal. It’s part and parcel of football. We have to travel. We’ll do the best we can to recover and prepare the boys. Sometimes we go two days before, some days the day before. It’ll just depend on how far the travel is and what we think is best for the players.”
‘It’s one you put on the calendar’ – Local boy Steele ready to help Mariners get off the mark
Unite Round gets underway at Allianz Stadium this evening as Perth Glory face Western United before attention then turns to what promises to be a fascinating F3 Derby.
In the blue corner are Rob Stanton’s Newcastle Jets side, currently sat 9th on the ladder after recording one win and two losses so far this campaign.
In the red corner are the reigning Isuzu UTE A-League Champions, Central Coast Mariners, who are yet to pick up a win this season.
With three draws followed by their recent 3-0 loss at home to Wellington Phoenix, the Mariners find themselves 10th on the ladder and already seven points off league-leaders Melbourne Victory.
When you factor in their Round of 32 exit in the Australia Cup and their subsequent three losses and a draw so far in the ACL Elite league stage, Mark Jackson’s side are actually yet to taste victory in the 2024-25 campaign.
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So what better way to kick start your season than with a win over your rivals?
“Oh, look, it’s always been the derby for the Mariners,” said Mariners midfielder Harry Steele. “It’s one of the big games on the calendar that everyone looks forward to.
“We’ve been fortunate enough to have a good string of wins over the last few years. So hopefully, we can build on it and get a good result on Friday.”
Rewind 12 months or so and it was actually in Round 5 of the 2023-24 Isuzu UTE A-League season where the Mariners picked up their first win of the campaign; a 3-1 win over the Newcastle Jets.
“I think it’s one of the games that you can get up for pretty easy. So being a local boy, it’s one that you look forward to and you put on the calendar.
“So yeah, hopefully we come out Friday firing and ready to get the win. Obviously the results haven’t been going our way.
“But we’re trusting the process, and I’m sure we’ll be ready for Friday and get that first win on the board. It’s one of the big games of the season.
“It’s (the) second game of Unite Round as well so hopefully there’s a good crowd there, and hopefully a lot of fans from the coast can come down to Sydney and support us (to) get the win.”
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