Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano insists there’s “real belief” in the squad that they can turnaround their fortunes.
After back-to-back defeats, the Phoenix entered the round as one of four teams, alongside Central Coast, at the foot of the A-League ladder with eight points.
But Italiano says it’s not all doom and gloom and he’s not stressing about their results.
“I know it sounds a little bit ironic, but the vibe is good in the group and there’s a lot of belief in the group,” he told media after training on Thursday.
“In terms of coaching, structure, everything that we’re putting out, content and group environment; it’s probably the best it’s ever been.
“What I’m very happy with at the moment is the output from the players and the fact they’re sticking to what we’ve been trying to play for the past four months.
“I think if we can do things consistently, remain focused in the game [and] take away some of the unforced errors that have been costing us then things will fall into place.
“It could be a stretch of games where we struggle and we suffer, but I think it’ll take one or two results and then our season will kickstart.”
Despite the defeats the Nix started the week just a point off the top six, one of the reasons Italiano is confident they can push up the table.
“If I was looking at what we’re doing on the park and we’re not making those chances, we’re not holding on to a large part of possession then I would be genuinely worried.
“But the league is so close at the moment. You don’t see blowouts in games. You see that anyone can beat anyone. You see teams that win two or three games they jump from second-last to third or fourth.
“Teams are actually more well balanced in terms of squad depth. There’s not much between them.
“In terms of overall squad depth there are three teams that have a bigger squad, which would be City, Auckland and Sydney FC.
“In the long-term the way they’re going they’ll probably be the top three and then you can throw a blanket across the rest.
“I’m very hopeful and I still have it in my mindset that we can achieve fourth.”
Wellington are one of two teams yet to register a clean sheet this season but Italiano is more concerned with the other end of the pitch.
“The one trend when you play like this is that you’re going to give a higher xG against you in terms of chances.
“The disappointing part against Central Coast and a couple of other games where we conceded they were all preventable and we could have got a couple of clean sheets, but that’s coming.
“Once we can eliminate some of the individual errors and lapses of concentration, I think that’ll eventuate.
“Playing this system as well the flipside is if you’re going to make four or five big chances in a game you need to score two or three goals, and that’s probably my more frustrating part.
“I don’t mind conceding as long as we’re scoring more.”
The Phoenix drew 1-1 with Central Coast Mariners in Gosford in November with Mariners goalkeeper Andrew Redmayne producing a man of the match performance.
“It’s a running theme for all of games at the moment, in terms of chance creation.
“Against Mariners in the last game we could have been three or four-nil up after 25 minutes. Eze on a better day could have had a hat-trick. There were some other big chances that we missed. Luke Brooke-Smith in the second half had two really big chances [and] Carlo had two big chances.
“We need to finish those and I think that’s what’s hurting us at the moment.
“Even in the Newcastle game at the weekend we could have comfortably gone into halftime two or three-nil up.”
Giancarlo Italiano is hoping to welcome back centre backs Manjrekar James (suspension) and Isaac Hughes (injury) for Sunday’s game, while experienced midfielder Paulo Retre is also in line to make his first appearance of the season.
“Paulo’s been around for a long time [and] he’s won a couple of championships.
“Last year he didn’t play for a large chunk of the season and that really cost us in terms of experience, so we need him back.
“We also need the two central defenders back. They’re starters for us.
“They bring quality obviously but also in critical moments they bring that experience, that ability to close games or take opportunity when it’s there.”
The round nine Isuzu UTE A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Central Coast Mariners is scheduled to kick-off at Sky Stadium in Wellington at 3pm Sunday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 2 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Most recent meeting: 2 November 2025 – Central Coast Mariners 1 Wellington Phoenix 1
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 20W, Mariners 19W & 12D.
Wellington Phoenix squad (two to be omitted): 1. Josh OLUWAYEMI (gk), 3. Corban PIPER, 4. Manjrekar JAMES, 5. Fin ROA CONCHIE, 7. Ifeanyi EZE, 8. Paulo RETRE, 11. Carlo ARMIENTO, 12. Dan EDWARDS, 14. Alex RUFER (c), 15. Isaac HUGHES, 17. Gabriel SLOANE-RODRIGUES, 18. Lukas KELLY-HEALD, 20. Ramy NAJJARINE, 24. Xuan LOKE, 25. Kazuki NAGASAWA, 27. Matt SHERIDAN, 29. Luke BROOKE-SMITH, Anaru CASSIDY, 39. Jayden SMITH, 40. Eamonn MCCARRON (gk).
Unavailable: 6. Tim PAYNE (injured), 9. Hideki ISHIGE (injured), 10. Nikola MILEUSNIC (injured), 19. Nathan WALKER (injured),23. Luke SUPYK (injured).
Central Coast Mariners squad (two to be omitted): 2. James DONACHIE, 3. Nathan PAULL, 5. Lucas MAURAGIS, 7. Christian THEOHAROUS, 6. Haine EAMES, 8. Alfie McCALMONT, 9. Ryan EDMONDSON, 10. Miguel DI PIZIO, 11. Sabit NGOR, 14. Nico DUARTE, 15. Storm ROUX, 16. Harrison STEELE, 20. Will KENNEDY, 21. Abdul FAISAL, 24. Diesel HERRINGTON, 26. Bradley TAPP, 30. Andrew REDMAYNE (gk), 37. Bailey BRANDTMAN, 40. Dylan PERAIC-CULLEN (gk), 42. Laurence TAYLOR.
Unavailable: 4. Trent SAINSBURY (c) (injured), 22. Arthur DE LIMA (injured).
Main image: Giancarlo Italiano ahead of last Sunday’s match against Newcastle Jets. Photo: Cam McIntosh/Photomac.
