Wellington Phoenix manager Mark Rudan has warned his troops that nothing is locked in as they prepare to host Newcastle Jets at Westpac Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
The ‘Nix are enjoying something of a renaissance under rookie manager Rudan, and are in line for their first Finals campaign since 2015.
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Despite sitting in fourth place with eight points between themselves and their seventh-placed opponents on Saturday, Rudan urged his players to keep their standards high.
“Expectations have risen hugely at this football club and with expectations it means that we have to continue to improve and challenge ourselves,” Rudan said.
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“Firmly from within it’s a goal of ours [to finish in the top four]. We’re there now and it’s up to us to remain there and it’s a tough group of games to go.
I still think there’s going to be twists and turns until the end of the season, but there’s no guarantee for us with anything, not even Finals football.
“So tomorrow’s another game that we have to put our head down, concentrate and fully focus.”
MATCH PREVIEW: Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
The 43-year-old will have some selection headaches with a number a players returning to fitness, while prolific goalscorer Roy Krishna is suspended after picking up two yellow cards during their 3-1 victory over Western Sydney Wanderers in Round 22.
Rudan said he was not fazed about losing Krishna, who has contributed a league-high 15 goals to Wellington’s cause this season.
“We’re in form, we’re scoring goals, 11 goals in the last two weeks,” he said.
“We’re the third highest goal-scoring team in the competition as well, so it’s fantastic the progression and improvement the players have made since the start of the season to now.
“That’s my job, it’s what I get paid to do. We’ve had two weeks to look at different situations and solutions, and like I said we can go different ways tomorrow and we’ve got two more days to decide exactly how we’re going to go.
“Sarpreet [Singh] is there, Max [Burgess] is there, Cillian [Sheridan] is there, we’ve got plenty of players that have put their hand up that have scored or assisted goals this year.”
‘Important’ Durante honoured at testimonial
The international break came at a good time for the ‘Nix, who used the weekend off to host skipper Andrew Durante’s testimonial dinner in celebration of his decade at the club.
Rudan took the time to praise the 36-year-old and the club’s decision to honour him.
“I’ve said it before about Andrew Durante, at the start of the season I was very vocal on the importance of Andrew Durante and his personality.
“He’s an institution at this football club and the A-League as well, he deserves all the accolades he gets and it’s a just reward for his service at this football club.
“Not many hang around for as long as Andrew Durante’s hung around at one football club.”
The club has announced they will retire Durante’s number 22 jersey, an act that left the captain floored.
“An incredibly special night, to have an honour like that, for the club to retire my jersey, was really special and quite emotional and very humbling,” Durante said.
Phoenix Chairman Rob Morrison announced at Andrew Durante’s testimonial last night the Phoenix #22 shirt will be retired when @A_Dura22 retires. A first in the @ALeague I believe. pic.twitter.com/YaRmYSS2Ih
— Jason Pine (@pineynz) March 23, 2019
Wellington Phoenix host Newcastle Jets on Saturday afternoon (kick-off 5.35pm AEDT)
