Chris Greenacre wants to hit the ground running when he takes the coaching reins for the first time against Newcastle Jets at Westpac Stadium on Wednesday night.
Greenacre was named Wellington Phoenix coach today in the wake of Ricki Herbert-s resignation and is determined to make a winning start to his tenure, which is to the end of the season.
“This is a massive game for the football club and everyone associated with it,” Greenacre said after today-s training session.
“Motivating the players shouldn-t be necessary. These are the big games that all players want to be a part of.
“There have been good signs in the past couple of weeks that we are getting back to where we were and we have to continue that way.”
Greenacre backed up those comments by naming an unchanged side, with the same substitutes, from that which drew 2-2 with Adelaide United on Sunday.
“Myself and Gouldy (goalkeeping coach Jonathan Gould) aren-t here to upset the applecart and have kept the same team because they have been worthy of that in the last couple of games,” he said.
“The lads grew in confidence as the game progressed on Sunday and the last 10 to 15 minutes was probably the best we-ve played this season.
“We created plenty of chances and probably should have scored more, but I would be more worried if we weren-t creating opportunities.
“Goals breed confidence in teams and we need to get off to a good start because we have a good record when we score first.
“Had Corey-s goal been allowed in Brisbane and we had got an early lead, it would have been a vastly different game because it would have settled us down.
“But I would take an 89th minute winner on Wednesday night!”
Phoenix: Glen Moss, Leo Bertos, Andrew Durante (captain), Ben Sigmund, Tony Lochhead, Louis Fenton, Manny Muscat, Vince Lia, Paul Ifill, Jeremy Brockie, Corey Gameiro. Substitutes: Tyler Boyd, Dani Sanchez, Stein Huysegems, Mark Paston.
Wellington Phoenix v Newcastle Jets
Wednesday Feb 27
Kick off 7pm
Buy tickets here
