Chiefy Stays Resilient Amid Tough Stretch as Nix Aim to ‘Show Doubters Wrong’ Against Western

Wellington Phoenix manager Giancarlo ‘Chiefy’ Italiano is adamant that morale remains high within the squad, and the players firmly believe they can turn their season around despite a challenging spell.

The Nix currently sit 11th on the table, having secured only two points from their last five outings, and suffered a 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City in their latest match.

As if that wasn’t enough, they now face the daunting task of heading to the in-form Western United on Saturday afternoon, with John Aloisi’s team currently positioned second on the ladder.

“I’m feeling really positive,” Italiano stated when asked about the team’s mindset leading into this weekend’s match at Ironbark Fields.

“Training was excellent today, and we’ve had a productive week overall. Despite being on the wrong side of results lately, the atmosphere within the group is quite encouraging.

“I’ve experienced environments where things are going poorly, and it can be quite toxic. However, it’s entirely the opposite with this group, which is fantastic.

“I believe there is still a great deal of confidence within the squad. They are eager to prove the doubters wrong. I keep emphasising that all it takes is one performance, one result, and we can shift the momentum for our season.”

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The 1-0 setback against Melbourne City in Round 21 marked the club’s third consecutive defeat in the Isuzu UTE A-League, following losses to Auckland FC and Melbourne Victory. The team’s struggles in the attacking third have come under scrutiny once again.

Despite their ongoing struggles to find the back of the net, Italiano is optimistic that their fortunes will change, particularly once he has his preferred attacking lineup available.

“The key to successful attacking play is understanding cohesion and being aware of where teammates will be positioned at all times.

“It appears there has been an over-reliance on Kosta (Barbarouses), making it simpler for opponents to defend against him when he’s not receiving the necessary support.

“We need to ensure that players are operating in areas where they can be most effective and provide creative options for him. This relies heavily on team chemistry.

“Last year, when I joined the team, I already knew the players well, so it was easy to create a sense of unity. This season, however, we’ve seen significant roster changes, both in terms of quantity and quality.

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“That isn’t to say that the new players we’ve brought in lack quality. It’s more about the understanding of each other’s movements. The more matches we play together, the better we hope they will become at recognising combinations and developing chemistry.

“But it does require time. With numerous injuries, we’re also depending on some younger players, which can lead to a somewhat disjointed performance. So, in the end, it’s a matter of time above all else.