October 17, 2025 • 10 mins
Wellington Pheonix FC finished near the bottom end of the table last season, whilst rivals Auckland FC topped the chart.
Wellington Phoenix Head Coach Giancarlo Italiano chats with Jason Pine about how the team's switching their playstyle this season, what self-reflections he had after last season, and what plans they have to top the competition.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, we've heard from Walkland FC. The Wellington Phoenix open
their A League men's campaign in Western Australia tonight. They
take on Perth Glory from eleven forty five pm tonight.
New Zealand time head coaches gian Calo Ataliana who joins
US now John Calor. How ready do you feel for
the start of the new season.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, no, we're we're ready to go. Like it's been
a really good pre season.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
We've had good run of games now for a month
and now we just want to get into the season
and start putting our work to play.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
What do you look for in pre season games that
gives you encouragement?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Well, obviously, you know, I don't make any bones about it.
I'm like a principal based coach that you know that
I try to do that through all the coaching and
all I'm looking for are markers and certain small like
KPIs within games to see if if we hit them.
And then what I really love about the games is
(01:07):
we're trying something and then we'll go back and then
we'll refitted to how you know what the system is,
and that's probably the most enjoyful part of the preseason
is trying to bring this new style to life, and
it's it's been going very well. To be fair, I
think you know, it'll be hard heart in mouths sort
(01:28):
of you know, sort of moments this year because you know,
we're doing some some different things, but what we've seen
so far has been really good.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Tell us about the changes you've made. You've signaled a
change of formation and you've just outlined there a slightly
different way of playing. What are the foundations of your
of your different approach this season.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, so I'll give you a bit of backstory to it,
because I think it's important. I think most importantly, when
I took the job initially, you know, and I transitioned
from you know, I already knew the players.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I already knew their limitations, already knew what they could do,
and it was more about just building on top of
what had been done for four years. So obviously I
knew the foundation of the team and all I needed
to do was really steer it where I thought I
could take the team. It wasn't too much change. So
even like implementing the Christmas Tree, defending Lawer and so on.
(02:22):
There weren't things that I felt were too out of
norm and I was able to evolve it. But I
made the decision after that first season I didn't want
to play that way. I wanted to be a little
bit more on the front foot. I wanted to be
a little bit more fluid in the way we did things,
and I.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Try to evolve it last season.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
But what killed me last season was, for a host
of reasons was the availability to players in pre season,
so building that foundation of the actual formation and trying
to evolve it. Maybe I did a little bit too
much too quickly, and then on top of that, didn't
have enough time. So if you look at the first
part of the season, even though we're getting results, there
(03:04):
were more results me plugging holes and trying to you know,
get us competitive to a game.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
But we had noble solid corps.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So you know, when a recess at the end of
last season, and you know, we obviously had a lot
of we had a host of.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Problems that I need to saw through.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
But one of the things that were really evident was
I was like, Okay, I need to actually give the
team a solid foundation now on what we're going to
grow for the.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Next couple of years. So you know, I've made no secrets.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
You know, I'm going to go to a three four three,
and we're going to have certain principles that are going
to stick within the team now for the next couple
of years.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
That are going to be the foundation.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So from that, if I fast forward, you know, let's say,
you know, a couple of years from down the track
and the team's doing well, then I can start manipulating
that shape, that foundation ideas and then do a host.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Of things, is which is what I did in that
first year when I took over. So that's the thinking.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
And I think having a reference point for the players
that they understand fundamentally who we are, how we play,
then all the other stuff is easy to execute.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So what are the key principles then of the way
you want to play?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Yeah, so I think the most important thing is, you know,
we're going to press this season. We're going to be
a lot, you know, a lot more focused on keeping
the opposition in their defensive half.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
That'll be our primary focus.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Still adding on principles of like the way I want
to build up in terms of you know, you know, I've.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Got I've got lo clear evidence. You know, I like
to be good with the ball, quick, quick.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Combinations, but there's a more focus emphasis now on final
third entries and so on. And the good thing about
this preseason and restarting really with you know, a good
chunk of players that have come in now is I've
been able to get those players that I feel like
fit the system more, whereas I had a crossover maybe
over the last couple of seasons of the team that
(05:05):
was before and so on. So it's been a slow process,
but it's been it's been actually really like it's really
raised my energy levels. With the players that were brought
in will been very fresh and good for the group
as well.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So the recruitment strategy was was directly related to I
mean the sounds obvious, doesn't it, but directly related to
the way you wanted to play the players you brought
and they fit the blueprint you're after.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, So like you if you look at a player
like color Amiento that I brought in, you know, traditionally
not a defensive player, but I've converted him into more
of attacking wing back and that suits you style. It's
just more about getting his defensive output and to the
level that we need. And you know, we brought in
(05:52):
Rami Nazurine. You know, it's a great pocket player. If
you're watching him, like really excited when he plays. Is
a nice player to watch. And I think we missed
that last season and the one that I thought, you know,
fortunately a bit of Australia. But it'll be back in
a couple of weeks, as Nicola Mille using it. You know,
I think if you watched him with Zi in the
(06:12):
first part of the pre season, I was so excited
because they were just different but the.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Same sort of player. But they worked really well together.
So I've been really happy with that. In terms of the.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Recruitment, just a couple of about this weekend, you've got
Tim Pain and Lucas Kelly hild returning from All Whites duty.
Presumably they just meet you in Perth. They've washed up, okay,
term in particular, will he will he be up for
ninety minutes do you think?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, we'll assess today, see how he is. I think
he came in last night, so I missed him. I
think he went straight to his hotel room. I saw Lucas.
He looked fine. A little bit yet lagged as expected,
but we'll assess today at training. They train this evening,
so it gives them a bit of time to recover and
they can sleep in so we acclimatize also here without
(07:01):
training towards game time, so we'll try to keep him
back with their body clocks. So hopefully that helps.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
For guys like those two Rufer Luke brook Smith who
have been in and around the all whites environment, Snow Sacred.
There's a World Cup next year. Do you talk to
them about their all whites aspirations or are they just
a byproduct of playing well for you?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
I think I said this in my last interview, me
talking to them, I think does more is more detrimental
than it is a positive. They all those players that
are in contention put their own pressure on themselves. They
don't need me, you know, to double down. And you know,
obviously I've had conversations with the players in terms of
(07:45):
what targets are.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, we do that for all the players.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You know, we make sure that you know, we put
a roadmap for the season, what's successful play? You know,
they all want to go to a World Cup. I
keep saying, everyone looks towards painting in ruff has been
obviously the obvious ones because they've been part part of
the squad. But I like to think there might be
one or two players that no one's thinking about now
that will jump jump out in this season. I've seen
it so many times, and I try to give belief
(08:10):
to those players that anything is possible. You know, you
know the all whites as well. You know, they're probably
not getting the right run of results at the moment,
so sometimes that puts a little bit of in the
coach and the coaching stuff, and they might be looking,
you know, for different different options.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And I think for me the most important thing.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Is we play well. We play a good style. Everyone
loves watching us play. You know, if we do well,
then you know, it'd be like a couple of years ago.
You know, Oldie comes out, you know has a breakout.
You know Poulsen comes out as a breakout for insurment.
So anything is possible.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Do you feel any pressure.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think I felt more pressure last year in the
sense that was it the results that worried me.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
It was more what was going on the pitch in
terms of performance that that really irked me.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
But I actually probably felt even more the year before
because I'd win a game, I'm still getting smashed by people.
And then I realized I can't do anything right even
when I'm winning games. So look, I think for a
large pub the pressure is the own pressure you create
(09:26):
for yourself. It's not from anyone else. Like, you know,
I'm a workaholic, you know, I feel like I'm a
perfectionist when it comes to work. So when something doesn't work,
it just compounds, and you know, I get very frustrated
and I give one hundred percent. And you know, I've
been very open about you know, what happened last season
as well, that pressure of trying to protect the team
(09:50):
actually probably did more harm to.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
The team than than good. But I was able to
come away self reflect and this season.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I just get the feeling that with the group, you know,
they all have the same focus I do, and I
can't ask for anything else. I mean, you know, we
could lose the first four games this season, play unbelievably
well you know what does that mean? You know what
happens if we win the first four and we're terrible?
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (10:17):
You know? But for me, I just again, my focus
this season is as cheesy as it sounds. We want
to entertain, we want to be the best footballing team
in the competition. We'll do things that you know that
our fans will be very happy with and if we
win games, fantastic, you know. But again, you know it's
(10:37):
going to be a rollercoaster of a season. I'm looking
forward to it.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
So am I, so am I? All the best against
Perth Glory. First up, Jeffy, thanks for chatting. We'll catch up,
no doubt, many times throughout the season. Thanks Fannie, thank you,
Chief Jihn calo A Taliano. They're the head coach of
Wellington Phoenix. So tonight take on Perth Glory in the
season April.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Well, we've heard from Walkland FC. The Wellington Phoenix open
their A League men's campaign in Western Australia tonight. They
take on Perth Glory from eleven forty five pm tonight.
New Zealand time head coaches gian Calo Ataliana who joins
US now John Calor. How ready do you feel for
the start of the new season.
Speaker 3 (00:29):
Yeah, no, we're we're ready to go. Like it's been
a really good pre season.
Speaker 4 (00:34):
We've had good run of games now for a month
and now we just want to get into the season
and start putting our work to play.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
What do you look for in pre season games that
gives you encouragement?
Speaker 4 (00:47):
Well, obviously, you know, I don't make any bones about it.
I'm like a principal based coach that you know that
I try to do that through all the coaching and
all I'm looking for are markers and certain small like
KPIs within games to see if if we hit them.
And then what I really love about the games is
(01:07):
we're trying something and then we'll go back and then
we'll refitted to how you know what the system is,
and that's probably the most enjoyful part of the preseason
is trying to bring this new style to life, and
it's it's been going very well. To be fair, I
think you know, it'll be hard heart in mouths sort
(01:28):
of you know, sort of moments this year because you know,
we're doing some some different things, but what we've seen
so far has been really good.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
Tell us about the changes you've made. You've signaled a
change of formation and you've just outlined there a slightly
different way of playing. What are the foundations of your
of your different approach this season.
Speaker 3 (01:49):
Yeah, so I'll give you a bit of backstory to it,
because I think it's important. I think most importantly, when
I took the job initially, you know, and I transitioned
from you know, I already knew the players.
Speaker 4 (02:01):
I already knew their limitations, already knew what they could do,
and it was more about just building on top of
what had been done for four years. So obviously I
knew the foundation of the team and all I needed
to do was really steer it where I thought I
could take the team. It wasn't too much change. So
even like implementing the Christmas Tree, defending Lawer and so on.
(02:22):
There weren't things that I felt were too out of
norm and I was able to evolve it. But I
made the decision after that first season I didn't want
to play that way. I wanted to be a little
bit more on the front foot. I wanted to be
a little bit more fluid in the way we did things,
and I.
Speaker 3 (02:41):
Try to evolve it last season.
Speaker 4 (02:43):
But what killed me last season was, for a host
of reasons was the availability to players in pre season,
so building that foundation of the actual formation and trying
to evolve it. Maybe I did a little bit too
much too quickly, and then on top of that, didn't
have enough time. So if you look at the first
part of the season, even though we're getting results, there
(03:04):
were more results me plugging holes and trying to you know,
get us competitive to a game.
Speaker 3 (03:09):
But we had noble solid corps.
Speaker 4 (03:11):
So you know, when a recess at the end of
last season, and you know, we obviously had a lot
of we had a host of.
Speaker 3 (03:18):
Problems that I need to saw through.
Speaker 4 (03:19):
But one of the things that were really evident was
I was like, Okay, I need to actually give the
team a solid foundation now on what we're going to
grow for the.
Speaker 3 (03:28):
Next couple of years. So you know, I've made no secrets.
Speaker 4 (03:33):
You know, I'm going to go to a three four three,
and we're going to have certain principles that are going
to stick within the team now for the next couple
of years.
Speaker 3 (03:40):
That are going to be the foundation.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
So from that, if I fast forward, you know, let's say,
you know, a couple of years from down the track
and the team's doing well, then I can start manipulating
that shape, that foundation ideas and then do a host.
Speaker 3 (03:56):
Of things, is which is what I did in that
first year when I took over. So that's the thinking.
Speaker 4 (04:01):
And I think having a reference point for the players
that they understand fundamentally who we are, how we play,
then all the other stuff is easy to execute.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
So what are the key principles then of the way
you want to play?
Speaker 4 (04:15):
Yeah, so I think the most important thing is, you know,
we're going to press this season. We're going to be
a lot, you know, a lot more focused on keeping
the opposition in their defensive half.
Speaker 3 (04:29):
That'll be our primary focus.
Speaker 4 (04:32):
Still adding on principles of like the way I want
to build up in terms of you know, you know, I've.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
Got I've got lo clear evidence. You know, I like
to be good with the ball, quick, quick.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
Combinations, but there's a more focus emphasis now on final
third entries and so on. And the good thing about
this preseason and restarting really with you know, a good
chunk of players that have come in now is I've
been able to get those players that I feel like
fit the system more, whereas I had a crossover maybe
over the last couple of seasons of the team that
(05:05):
was before and so on. So it's been a slow process,
but it's been it's been actually really like it's really
raised my energy levels. With the players that were brought
in will been very fresh and good for the group
as well.
Speaker 2 (05:19):
So the recruitment strategy was was directly related to I
mean the sounds obvious, doesn't it, but directly related to
the way you wanted to play the players you brought
and they fit the blueprint you're after.
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Yeah, So like you if you look at a player
like color Amiento that I brought in, you know, traditionally
not a defensive player, but I've converted him into more
of attacking wing back and that suits you style. It's
just more about getting his defensive output and to the
level that we need. And you know, we brought in
(05:52):
Rami Nazurine. You know, it's a great pocket player. If
you're watching him, like really excited when he plays. Is
a nice player to watch. And I think we missed
that last season and the one that I thought, you know,
fortunately a bit of Australia. But it'll be back in
a couple of weeks, as Nicola Mille using it. You know,
I think if you watched him with Zi in the
(06:12):
first part of the pre season, I was so excited
because they were just different but the.
Speaker 3 (06:17):
Same sort of player. But they worked really well together.
So I've been really happy with that. In terms of the.
Speaker 2 (06:24):
Recruitment, just a couple of about this weekend, you've got
Tim Pain and Lucas Kelly hild returning from All Whites duty.
Presumably they just meet you in Perth. They've washed up, okay,
term in particular, will he will he be up for
ninety minutes do you think?
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, we'll assess today, see how he is. I think
he came in last night, so I missed him. I
think he went straight to his hotel room. I saw Lucas.
He looked fine. A little bit yet lagged as expected,
but we'll assess today at training. They train this evening,
so it gives them a bit of time to recover and
they can sleep in so we acclimatize also here without
(07:01):
training towards game time, so we'll try to keep him
back with their body clocks. So hopefully that helps.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
For guys like those two Rufer Luke brook Smith who
have been in and around the all whites environment, Snow Sacred.
There's a World Cup next year. Do you talk to
them about their all whites aspirations or are they just
a byproduct of playing well for you?
Speaker 4 (07:25):
I think I said this in my last interview, me
talking to them, I think does more is more detrimental
than it is a positive. They all those players that
are in contention put their own pressure on themselves. They
don't need me, you know, to double down. And you know,
obviously I've had conversations with the players in terms of
(07:45):
what targets are.
Speaker 3 (07:47):
You know, we do that for all the players.
Speaker 4 (07:48):
You know, we make sure that you know, we put
a roadmap for the season, what's successful play? You know,
they all want to go to a World Cup. I
keep saying, everyone looks towards painting in ruff has been
obviously the obvious ones because they've been part part of
the squad. But I like to think there might be
one or two players that no one's thinking about now
that will jump jump out in this season. I've seen
it so many times, and I try to give belief
(08:10):
to those players that anything is possible. You know, you
know the all whites as well. You know, they're probably
not getting the right run of results at the moment,
so sometimes that puts a little bit of in the
coach and the coaching stuff, and they might be looking,
you know, for different different options.
Speaker 3 (08:31):
And I think for me the most important thing.
Speaker 4 (08:33):
Is we play well. We play a good style. Everyone
loves watching us play. You know, if we do well,
then you know, it'd be like a couple of years ago.
You know, Oldie comes out, you know has a breakout.
You know Poulsen comes out as a breakout for insurment.
So anything is possible.
Speaker 2 (08:49):
Do you feel any pressure.
Speaker 4 (08:52):
I think I felt more pressure last year in the
sense that was it the results that worried me.
Speaker 3 (08:59):
It was more what was going on the pitch in
terms of performance that that really irked me.
Speaker 4 (09:04):
But I actually probably felt even more the year before
because I'd win a game, I'm still getting smashed by people.
And then I realized I can't do anything right even
when I'm winning games. So look, I think for a
large pub the pressure is the own pressure you create
(09:26):
for yourself. It's not from anyone else. Like, you know,
I'm a workaholic, you know, I feel like I'm a
perfectionist when it comes to work. So when something doesn't work,
it just compounds, and you know, I get very frustrated
and I give one hundred percent. And you know, I've
been very open about you know, what happened last season
as well, that pressure of trying to protect the team
(09:50):
actually probably did more harm to.
Speaker 3 (09:52):
The team than than good. But I was able to
come away self reflect and this season.
Speaker 4 (09:58):
I just get the feeling that with the group, you know,
they all have the same focus I do, and I
can't ask for anything else. I mean, you know, we
could lose the first four games this season, play unbelievably
well you know what does that mean? You know what
happens if we win the first four and we're terrible?
What does that mean?
Speaker 3 (10:17):
You know? But for me, I just again, my focus
this season is as cheesy as it sounds. We want
to entertain, we want to be the best footballing team
in the competition. We'll do things that you know that
our fans will be very happy with and if we
win games, fantastic, you know. But again, you know it's
(10:37):
going to be a rollercoaster of a season. I'm looking
forward to it.
Speaker 2 (10:40):
So am I, so am I? All the best against
Perth Glory. First up, Jeffy, thanks for chatting. We'll catch up,
no doubt, many times throughout the season. Thanks Fannie, thank you,
Chief Jihn calo A Taliano. They're the head coach of
Wellington Phoenix. So tonight take on Perth Glory in the
season April.
Speaker 1 (10:54):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live
to news talks it'd be weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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