February 21, 2025 • 7 mins
The stats say today's final regular-season Kiwi A-League football derby won't be a high-scoring affair.
Auckland FC have won both encounters to date with the Phoenix, triumphing 2-nil in Wellington in November and 2-1 at Mt Smart in December.
The two teams have two of the top-three defences.
Wellington Nix striker Marco Rojas joined D'Arcy Waldegrave to discuss his return to the side.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven nineteen from Auckland f C now to the Wellington Phoenix.
Michael Rojas joins the Programe morning, Marco. How are you hey?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm doing great? More important, how are you doing? You
were supposed to be out for the season, but you're
going to be coming off the bench and the derby.
That's nothing short of miraculous, mate, And.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, I think it was how I's kind of believe
that I would most likely be back to kind of
just how long they would be. I'm excited. It's great
to be back traveling with the sea and can turn
into a few minutes pero.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So let's look at the nature of the injury. Because
you did it in training, didn't you. How long ago
was that that you in Was it December?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The end of December just before Christmas or the Western
Sidney wonders.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
A wait, right, So you had it looked at and
they went worse than its thought, what's the nature of
the injury? What what has to what had to heal?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Were the worst then we thought part came three weeks
in when I had an MRIs an initially, That's why
it was like, initially it was thought to me one
thing turned out to be a little bit more severe.
The damage to the ligament which I had had quite
roll and injured the inside and outside ligaments. But I
(01:40):
supposed to take I think about twelve weeks and total,
and I think I'm sitting here at about ten or
ten or eleven, about ten, and I'm really happy to
be back it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So as far as the recovery is concerned, being a
professional athlete, you kind of have to get used to it,
don't you. Did you do anything specially in anything particularly to
actually focus on in order to get things going again.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I kind of ramped up the things that I
already do with your facilities. So in the cold pool
quite a lot. Most of the mornings, I spend about
four five minutes sitting in there, a lot of physio,
a lot of family I'm in Hamilton, and then which
the club allowed me to do, which is cool because
(02:23):
that's good for my soul, and they helped me recover.
A lot of yoga, a lot of meditation, a whole
lot of different things that I kind of do. Anyway,
my aide to keep me, to keep me going.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I'm so down with that yoga meditation. Your soul
and your mind so important in recovery. But let's move
to the physicality. Off the bench five o'clock this afternoon
and carcasses. I want to clean sweet the Derby's that's
got to get right up your nose. Does that give
you a bit of what's the word motivation? I suppose
(02:56):
to actually get in there, and cause of ruckers.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I'm not aware of the Actually I don't. I don't
think so. I mean to Dolby's big enough, you know,
like I played, and a lot of Melbourne ones, and
just the game myself is exciting. You wake up the
week off the Dolby and you know that it's a
different week. So I believe that I feel that it's
(03:20):
a different week and seen those But I think they
could say whatever they wanted and would still be really
motivated to this game, especially having having.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Lost the posts, and of course doing it at their
place in front of a sold out stadium. Even though
they're not your fans. I'm sure there'll be plenty of
yellow jerseys out there supporting you. But that's that's the
essence of good sport. Isn't it a PEC stadium going nuts?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah for sure? Yeah yeah, having a full stadium is amazing.
Like I said, I really fond memories of the Melbourne ones.
You know that, And actually that's this weekend two bit
plain a few of the eclips from the older older
dobbies and full stadium loud as anything, their special moments
and it's so cool that New Zealand football get behind
(04:12):
her and the public get behind her. For the full
stadium in the football game is just it's just difference
to other sports and it's just really we're looking forward
to it and I'm just so grateful to be back
and be able to be a.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Part of what's chief You've been working with this week
because you guys are you're not exactly at the top
of the table. You don't have the best season so far.
It's when are we bit hot and colds? Wins and
losses and drawls. If you guys zeroed in on what
you actually need to apply to start getting some wins.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, yeah, we we have internally as a group and
that's for us, So we're going to keep that for us.
So I'm going to keep it for us.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Oh I come on, mac, I go on something, Go
and give us ahead, give us ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Of course, we're always working in trying to figure out
what what's going on and how we can turn around
the season because we we really want.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I know. Secure it's given.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So oh hey, you can't blame and go for asking.
You even know, one of these days one of you
fellows will leak the information. But you can't tell me.
You can't tell me about the spirit within the side.
Where's that sitting right now? It must be difficult to
keep your chins up. But it's required, is it not.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, it's definitely required. It's the only way forward. In fact,
there's no other way to do it. Football is the
team games and we have to geld together. We have
to find a way to work for each other. We
have to find a way to battle for each other,
and particularly in this game, do in an environment that
(05:44):
is highly emotional and a big crowd. Away. Again, the
thing that's doing really really well deservedly where they are,
they're definitely going to be up against it. But we're well,
we're prepared as well as we can. We know it
hasn't been great, but we'll let's see what we can
do right. All we can do is put the kid on,
(06:06):
put the boots on, look each other in my eyes,
and you know what we have to be ready to
go and go for it and see uh see, I
lave that.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Naka Rajas. Can you give us one thought on something
quite unusual that's happening within your side at the moment.
That's like the way you get planned away with that
kind of lob ball. What's it all about?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Part of the speacret plans that are that are first off,
some of them come off some of them, but I'm
sure i'd like myself some of the things I'll try
and do even moving forward, or come off some of
them boats. I think you're trying to think outside the box,
but probably better that they. We'll be the coaching stuff that.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I'd say, So next time I get them on, I'll
do it. Marcos, thank you so much for joining us.
Play well and I'm sure you're going to hold together
return for the thing what nineteen weeks Phoenix fans are
going to be stoked you look after yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Thank you For more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave, listen live to News Talk set B on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Seven nineteen from Auckland f C now to the Wellington Phoenix.
Michael Rojas joins the Programe morning, Marco. How are you hey?
Speaker 3 (00:20):
How are you doing?
Speaker 2 (00:20):
I'm doing great? More important, how are you doing? You
were supposed to be out for the season, but you're
going to be coming off the bench and the derby.
That's nothing short of miraculous, mate, And.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Yeah, I think it was how I's kind of believe
that I would most likely be back to kind of
just how long they would be. I'm excited. It's great
to be back traveling with the sea and can turn
into a few minutes pero.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
So let's look at the nature of the injury. Because
you did it in training, didn't you. How long ago
was that that you in Was it December?
Speaker 3 (01:03):
The end of December just before Christmas or the Western
Sidney wonders.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
A wait, right, So you had it looked at and
they went worse than its thought, what's the nature of
the injury? What what has to what had to heal?
Speaker 3 (01:19):
Were the worst then we thought part came three weeks
in when I had an MRIs an initially, That's why
it was like, initially it was thought to me one
thing turned out to be a little bit more severe.
The damage to the ligament which I had had quite
roll and injured the inside and outside ligaments. But I
(01:40):
supposed to take I think about twelve weeks and total,
and I think I'm sitting here at about ten or
ten or eleven, about ten, and I'm really happy to
be back it.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
So as far as the recovery is concerned, being a
professional athlete, you kind of have to get used to it,
don't you. Did you do anything specially in anything particularly to
actually focus on in order to get things going again.
Speaker 3 (02:02):
Yeah, I kind of ramped up the things that I
already do with your facilities. So in the cold pool
quite a lot. Most of the mornings, I spend about
four five minutes sitting in there, a lot of physio,
a lot of family I'm in Hamilton, and then which
the club allowed me to do, which is cool because
(02:23):
that's good for my soul, and they helped me recover.
A lot of yoga, a lot of meditation, a whole
lot of different things that I kind of do. Anyway,
my aide to keep me, to keep me going.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
Well, I'm so down with that yoga meditation. Your soul
and your mind so important in recovery. But let's move
to the physicality. Off the bench five o'clock this afternoon
and carcasses. I want to clean sweet the Derby's that's
got to get right up your nose. Does that give
you a bit of what's the word motivation? I suppose
(02:56):
to actually get in there, and cause of ruckers.
Speaker 3 (03:00):
I'm not aware of the Actually I don't. I don't
think so. I mean to Dolby's big enough, you know,
like I played, and a lot of Melbourne ones, and
just the game myself is exciting. You wake up the
week off the Dolby and you know that it's a
different week. So I believe that I feel that it's
(03:20):
a different week and seen those But I think they
could say whatever they wanted and would still be really
motivated to this game, especially having having.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
Lost the posts, and of course doing it at their
place in front of a sold out stadium. Even though
they're not your fans. I'm sure there'll be plenty of
yellow jerseys out there supporting you. But that's that's the
essence of good sport. Isn't it a PEC stadium going nuts?
Speaker 3 (03:48):
Yeah for sure? Yeah yeah, having a full stadium is amazing.
Like I said, I really fond memories of the Melbourne ones.
You know that, And actually that's this weekend two bit
plain a few of the eclips from the older older
dobbies and full stadium loud as anything, their special moments
and it's so cool that New Zealand football get behind
(04:12):
her and the public get behind her. For the full
stadium in the football game is just it's just difference
to other sports and it's just really we're looking forward
to it and I'm just so grateful to be back
and be able to be a.
Speaker 2 (04:25):
Part of what's chief You've been working with this week
because you guys are you're not exactly at the top
of the table. You don't have the best season so far.
It's when are we bit hot and colds? Wins and
losses and drawls. If you guys zeroed in on what
you actually need to apply to start getting some wins.
Speaker 3 (04:43):
Yeah, yeah, we we have internally as a group and
that's for us, So we're going to keep that for us.
So I'm going to keep it for us.
Speaker 2 (04:51):
Oh I come on, mac, I go on something, Go
and give us ahead, give us ahead.
Speaker 3 (04:56):
Of course, we're always working in trying to figure out
what what's going on and how we can turn around
the season because we we really want.
Speaker 1 (05:03):
To do that.
Speaker 3 (05:04):
I know. Secure it's given.
Speaker 2 (05:05):
So oh hey, you can't blame and go for asking.
You even know, one of these days one of you
fellows will leak the information. But you can't tell me.
You can't tell me about the spirit within the side.
Where's that sitting right now? It must be difficult to
keep your chins up. But it's required, is it not.
Speaker 3 (05:23):
Yeah, it's definitely required. It's the only way forward. In fact,
there's no other way to do it. Football is the
team games and we have to geld together. We have
to find a way to work for each other. We
have to find a way to battle for each other,
and particularly in this game, do in an environment that
(05:44):
is highly emotional and a big crowd. Away. Again, the
thing that's doing really really well deservedly where they are,
they're definitely going to be up against it. But we're well,
we're prepared as well as we can. We know it
hasn't been great, but we'll let's see what we can
do right. All we can do is put the kid on,
(06:06):
put the boots on, look each other in my eyes,
and you know what we have to be ready to
go and go for it and see uh see, I
lave that.
Speaker 2 (06:15):
Naka Rajas. Can you give us one thought on something
quite unusual that's happening within your side at the moment.
That's like the way you get planned away with that
kind of lob ball. What's it all about?
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Part of the speacret plans that are that are first off,
some of them come off some of them, but I'm
sure i'd like myself some of the things I'll try
and do even moving forward, or come off some of
them boats. I think you're trying to think outside the box,
but probably better that they. We'll be the coaching stuff that.
Speaker 2 (06:52):
I'd say, So next time I get them on, I'll
do it. Marcos, thank you so much for joining us.
Play well and I'm sure you're going to hold together
return for the thing what nineteen weeks Phoenix fans are
going to be stoked you look after yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:07):
Thank you very much.
Speaker 1 (07:08):
Thank you For more from the All Sport Breakfast with
Darcy Watergrave, listen live to News Talk set B on
Saturday mornings, or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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