Wellington Phoenix Confident Ahead of A-League Opener Despite Pre-Season Challenges

Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano is upbeat ahead of the club’s opening match of the 2024-25 Isuzu UTE A-League season, despite a turbulent pre-season marred by injuries and limited time with his first-choice squad. The Phoenix face Western United on Sunday at Sky Stadium, looking to build on last season’s record-breaking campaign that fell agonizingly short of a grand final berth.

Injuries and Setbacks, but No Panic

The Phoenix will be without key players, including Marco Rojas (leg fracture), Paulo Retre (groin), Lukas Kelly-Heald (hamstring), and Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues (knee). These injuries, combined with international commitments like the Paris Olympics, have disrupted pre-season plans, giving Italiano little time to work with his full squad. However, the coach remains confident in the depth of his team.

“Whatever players I field in my XI, I’m going to have the utmost confidence,” Italiano stated during Friday’s press conference. “The boys have been committed, giving 100% in training and holding each other accountable.”

Despite not fielding the same starting XI throughout pre-season, Italiano noted that every player who stepped onto the pitch had performed well. “I’m very confident in this group, and they’ve shown that they’re ready,” he said.

Limited Time, But Positive Progress

While Italiano admitted that the pre-season interruptions have made building chemistry a challenge, he expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress. “It’s been an opportunity for us on the coaching side to be more thorough in our process. We’ve had to maximize our time and teaching points,” he explained. “I feel the group is further ahead than I expected, given all the disruptions.”

Visa signings Josh Oluwayemi, Kazuki Nagasawa, and Hideki Ishige are expected to play crucial roles against Western United. Italiano is optimistic about their integration into the squad, although he acknowledged that more time in pre-season would have been ideal.

“Both Nagasawa and Ishige have fitted in well, although it took them some time. As for Josh, every game he plays makes me more confident that he’ll be a great addition to the team,” Italiano added.

Youth Players in Contention

Scholarship players Luke Brooke-Smith, Corban Piper, and Jayden Smith have been included in the 20-man squad for Sunday’s opener, alongside young forward Nathan Walker, who has been promoted from the reserves. Italiano revealed that while Walker may not start, he could be an impact substitute.

“He’s got a lot of pace, a bit of x-factor, and he’s fearless. Once we polish his skills, he’ll be very effective for us,” Italiano noted, but added, “It’s a little premature to start him just yet.”

Australian forward Stefan Colakovski, who only joined the Phoenix last week, will not be considered for selection this weekend.

Match Details

The Wellington Phoenix will take on Western United at Sky Stadium in Wellington on Sunday at 4:00pm local time (2:00pm AEDT). The match will be broadcast live on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand and on Paramount+ in Australia.

Wellington Phoenix Squad for Round 1:
Unavailable: Marco Rojas, Paulo Retre, Lukas Kelly-Heald, Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues.

Western United Squad for Round 1:
Unavailable: Ramy Najjarine, Khoder Kaddour.

Tags: Wellington Phoenix, A-League, Western United, Giancarlo Italiano, Isuzu UTE A-League, Sky Stadium, soccer news, A-League 2024 season

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