aleagues.com.au is your one-stop shop for the best of the pre-weekend media activity ahead of the 26th and final round of the Isuzu UTE A-League regular season.
BUY YOUR TICKETS TO THIS WEEKEND’S ISUZU UTE A-LEAGUE ACTION HERE!
Driving force behind the ‘Nix and their ‘kryptonite’
Wellington Phoenix could make history this weekend, and everything is prepared should they accomplish the feat.
Never before in their history have the Phoenix won an Isuzu UTE A-League Premiership but should rivals and defending champions Central Coast Mariners lose Saturday’s F3 Derby, Wellington will clinch the Premier’s Plate should they beat Macarthur FC on the same day.
STATE OF PLAY: Premiership, a home final, Golden Boot & more all up for grabs this weekend!
The silverware is in Wellington for the Sky Stadium showdown should everything fall the Phoenix’s way, but don’t ask head coach Giancarlo Italiano about it.
“I said I don’t want to see it,” he told reporters. “I don’t want to know about it. I don’t want my players to see it. I think it’s bad luck.
“It’s great and if we get crowned champions, they have to have it there. But yeah, I’ve don’t like tempting fate. It’s almost like kryptonite.”
Wellington have defied the odds throughout 2023-24.
With a rookie head coach and a host of academy graduates, the Phoenix have earned their best ever finish in the Isuzu UTE A-League, while also collecting the most points in club history.
The ‘Nix have been fuelled by some pre-season predictions which tipped the New Zealand-based team to finish bottom of the standings.
R26 PREVIEW: Jets can cause unique F3 Derby pain as simultaneous games shape Premiership race
“There’s a picture of a certain person on YouTube that tipped us to be last,” Italiano revealed. “It’s up in the change room and it tied in with one of our value meetings. Togetherness is one of our values, and it stays up there and it’s a constant reminder of what people think of us.
“I don’t go and say everyday that we need to be the underdog sort of mentality. It’s nothing like that but it’s just a little reminder of everyday of how people quickly forget how good our players are.
“And the driving force is actually built by the group themselves. Internally, they’ve got a collective mindset that they want to prove a lot of people wrong, and want to prove all the people that tipped us to be last and show them what we’re made of.
“For me, the most important thing out of all this is every time we’ve lost the game, they’ve come back out and responded to critics. So that shows the collective spirit and a belief in the group that can do great things.
“I don’t think anyone in this room actually tipped us to be anywhere near the top six to be fair, or even in this position. Even the most loyal fans are kind of questioning whether or not we’ll be competitive. So I’m just happy that the group was able to prove them wrong.”
Adelaide’s ‘blueprint’ for Reds youth
Adelaide United’s famed production line has unearthed some exciting Australian talent and led to some big moves abroad.
Bovalina is the latest Adelaide product to earn a move abroad, with Nestory Irankunda set to join Bayern Munich at the end of the season, Joe Gauci moved to Aston Villa in January, while Steven Hall was signed by Brighton and Hove Albion.
RYAN SCOTT INTERVIEW: How a bricklayer who became an A-Leagues champion nailed his ‘full circle moment’ 6 years later
Reds head coach Carl Veart told reporters ahead of Friday night’s contest with Brisbane Roar: “We’re very happy for Giuseppe. He came into the full-time squad in pre-season and was working extremely hard.
“He’s had a great first season in the league and it shows the playing group that if you’re prepared to come in and work hard, the reward is there for you.
“We don’t shy away from providing these opportunities for young players. And it’s up to them how much work they want to put into where they want to get to, and Giuseppe has.
“There’s no secrets; Joe Gauci, (Alexandar) Popovic, and Bova were three of the hardest working players at the club when they were here.
“There’s a blueprint there for the young players, if they’re prepared to come in and do all the extras, that there’s rewards there for them.”
PSV – the 24-time Dutch Eredivisie champions – will open their gates to Adelaide’s academy prospects, who will receive the opportunity to train at PSV’s Campus De Herdgang, while the club’s coaching staff will benefit from the expertise and insights offered by the PSV Coaching Academy.
‘UNPRECENDENTED’: Stats prove A-Leagues wonderkid is ready to compete for Bayern Munich minutes
“It’s a very good step for the club, to get some of the ideas that PSV have been using for a very long time,” said Veart.
“They’re one of the better development clubs in Holland. So it’s a great combination that we can work together and, maybe provide some learning for some of our young players as well to get the exposure to go over and train with some of the young teams as well.”
‘He is the best player in the competition’
That is the belief of Sydney FC head coach Ufuk Talay regarding Joe Lolley.
Lolley has been a shining light for Sydney in his second season in the competition, scoring nine goals and supplying seven assists for the fifth-placed Sky Blues.
The Englishman is on track to win the Alex Tobin Medal heading into the final round.
The Alex Tobin Medal is awarded by the panel of football experts at Network 10. In each regular season game, the best player of the match is awarded three points, the second-best player is awarded two points, and the third-best player is awarded one point.
YOUNG GUN: Sydney FC hand pro contract to ‘rare’ talent who joined club at 11
“Definitely,” Talay said when asked if Lolley is the best player in the competition as Sydney prepare to host lowly Perth Glory on Sunday. “He’s my player so he is the best player in competition.
“Joe has been fantastic for us, the way we want to play. You might have spoken earlier that it’s very demanding of what we ask him without the ball. But I think they see the benefits of it when we do win the ball and what he can do in those moments.
“He’s been very consistent for us this season and he’s very influential in creating moments where we do create goalscoring opportunities or assist in in those moments.
“I’m sure his focus will be on trying to win the game and perform well and then if he picks up another two points, I think I think you’ll achieve something really nice and it’s nice to be recognized for the efforts that you put in.”
Glory boss responds to reports of his future
Will Alen Stajcic be the head coach of Perth Glory next season?
This week, reports emerged claiming Stajcic could leave Perth at the end of the campaign.
The former Matildas and Philippines Women’s national team boss arrived at the start of 2023-24 and has overseen a challenging season, resulting in a bottom-placed finish heading into this weekend’s regular-season finale against Sydney FC.
It is set to be an off-season of change in Western Australia, where new owner Ross Pelligra tries to restore the club’s glory days.
READ MORE
SIGNING NEWS: City sign Joeys captain in historic moment 5 years in the making
WONDERKID WATCH: ‘Plan’ to turbocharge Aussie football ‘hotbed’ explained
LOCKED IN: First FOUR A-League All Stars named as iconic Kappa kit unveiled
BROX RETIRES: Postecoglou’s classic message as Victory icon explains origin story
But Stajcic is preparing to be part of it moving forward.
“I don’t know anything about that, to be honest. First I’ve heard of it,” Stajcic said in Friday’s press conference.
When asked whether it was his intention to see out the final two years of his contract, Stajcic responded: “Of course. I haven’t heard any different.
“We’re planning and preparing for next year.
“I don’t think I’ve really changed our views or the narrative around the team, but there’s a lot of hard work to be done to bring this team and this club back up.
“It’s not easy. It’s been extremely difficult this year.”
Pelligra was in the stands in Melbourne earlier this month as Perth were humiliated 8-0 by Melbourne City at Melbourne Park, while the club also have a new director of football in Socceroos legend Stan Lazaridis.
“He’s been here a couple of times, it’s more been (meeting) with (director of football) Stan (Lazaridis) and meeting regularly about rebuilding the team and who we want, who are key pillars for the team already and who we need to bring in to replace those gaps,” Stajcic said.
“We want to bring in leadership and bring in leaders who can mould those kids that we brought to the surface this year.
“We don’t have an amazing abundance of cash and I don’t think many teams will have, so you‘ve really got to build your strength internally and ensure you grow in a responsible way and growing the kids that we have is probably the most important asset we have.”
How Victory want to farewell a club icon
This weekend will see Melbourne Victory legend Leigh Broxham take part in his final regular-season game after announcing his retirement following 18 historic seasons.
The 36-year-old has won four Championships and three Premierships to go with two Australia Cup titles since debuting late in the 2006-07 season.
Tony Popovic and third-placed Victory want to send the one-time Socceroo out on a high this term.
END OF AN ERA: Ultimate A-Leagues icon confirms retirement after 18 record-breaking seasons
“I think everyone’s been on a on a bit of a high this week in training regardless,” Popovic said as Victory prepare to host Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday night.
“But he’s such a loved figure in football, and obviously, at this football club, 18-odd seasons over 450 games. It’s, it’s an amazing achievement.
“I know some people that have gone through the entire stage with him from the beginning have wonderful stories to tell.
“I feel very honoured and privileged to have coached him for the third season now and fantastic human being, fantastic professiona.
“He won’t talk about it, but we’d love to send him out on the high and actually win silverware this year. And, and for him to, to play a part in it as he has, you know, since I’ve been at the club.”
