Phoenix women look to make amends vs Adelaide
- 2 hours ago
- 4 min read
Wellington Phoenix head coach Bev Priestman is excited about the opportunity ahead of her side as they close in on a top two A-League placing.
Having already clinched a maiden trip to the finals, the Phoenix can secure second on the ladder and a place in the two-legged semi-finals with a win over fourth-placed Adelaide United at Coopers Stadium on Friday night.
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It’s despite back-to-back defeats, the latest against Western Sydney Wanderers on Sunday, which ended the team’s premiership hopes.
“We got together as a group the day after the game,” Priestman told media via zoom from Adelaide on Friday. “It’s a bit like a family they’re there to support each other, be challenged and had a bit of a reflection moment as a group about where we’re at.
“We’re in a new space where we’ve never been before for a lot of these players. With that you can see people are maybe trying too hard, which sometimes looks like people going off on their own direction.
“It’s pressure for some, it’s excitement for others [and] it’s a blend of a lot of things. But in reality we have to always celebrate that we’re in a place that we’ve never been before as a club, we’re in the top four guaranteed.
“In this last game I just want them to go out and express themselves. Go out and enjoy doing what they’re doing, but also what’s got us here.
“It’ll be an unbelievable achievement if we could get second based on the season we’ve had.
“I’ll be really, really proud of the group. What will be will be and then we’ll face knockout football.”
Priestman was notably frustrated after the defeat to Western Sydney.
“I know what this team can be and what they can do when they’re at their best.
“A little bit of either the excitement or the pressure…sends people in their own direction and ultimately what’s got us to this point is a collective effort.
“I don’t think it was a lack of effort that really was the problem against Western Sydney, I think it was we were back to the process of scoring goals. Don’t try and score every time we get the ball and make it a collective gameplan effort.
“I want to win just as much as they do, but I also know this team when they’re at their best. We’ve got to stick together and just go and do what we do.
“Forget the table, forget where we’re at and just do us.
“I don’t want the shirt feeling heavy. At the end of the day we can just go out and do what we’ve done which has got us here.”
Club captain CJ Bott has travelled to Adelaide despite being pregnant and unable to play.
“CJ just brings so much, yes on the pitch but also off the pitch.
“I just felt in this moment it was probably a good time [to], while she can still fly, get her in and around the group and have her support Mack (Mackenzie Barry) in this moment to lead this team.
“This next phase for us, leadership’s really important. Not just from me [and] from all the staff but also the playing group.”
It’s Wellington’s third game in 10 days, which will test the squad’s depth.
“It’s a balancing act of partnerships and consistency, whilst not rolling out the same XI.
“I also use subs very, very early so not a lot of players have to play 90 repeatedly.
“It’s more being front footed with the subs and the impact players, and being clear in this game who might bring us that energy when we really need it.”
The Phoenix beat Adelaide 3-1 at Porirua Park in January, but Priestman is under no illusions of the threat the Reds face.
“We were very clinical last time we played them for maybe the amount of chances we did get we
actually got on the scoreboard quite early.
“Adelaide are a top team. At that stadium they do very well there. It’s going to be a tough game but at the end of the day both teams have a lot to play for but are also in the position they’re in.
“With Adelaide what you’ve seen is they have good attacking threat so you’ve got to be respectful in that sense, but I also think you can also score on Adelaide so it’s going to be an interesting game.”
The round 22 Ninja A-League match between the Wellington Phoenix and Adelaide United is scheduled to kick-off at Coopers Stadium in Adelaide at 6:50pm (4:20pm ACDT) on Good Friday and will be broadcast LIVE on Sky Sport 3 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
