Sydney FC Head Coach Ufuk Talay has urged his side to maintain their momentum and remain firmly focused on their own ambitions as they prepare to face Wellington Phoenix this weekend.
Fresh off a valuable 1-0 win over Brisbane Roar, Talay was pleased to see his side return to winning ways — and equally delighted for Tiago Quintal after the teenager capped a strong run of form with a well-taken goal on Saturday afternoon.
“It was a very valuable three points against Brisbane at home,” Talay said. “I thought we thoroughly dominated the game, had full control and created some good moments, but only walked away with one goal. Tiago has been in great form over the last few games and he’s definitely contributing to the team’s success. For him to get a goal was a fantastic moment.”
Talay believes the attacker is reaping the rewards of increased responsibility and consistency this season.
“Last year he had moments coming off the bench where we could see what he could do. Now he’s getting consistency, more game time, starting matches. Football is about confidence and his confidence is very high at the moment. We always knew he had talent — now he’s bringing both sides of his game onto the field, and that’s very important.”
New Coach, New Challenge
Attention now turns to a Phoenix side undergoing change, with former Talay assistant Giancarlo Italiano recently departing and Chris Greenacre stepping into the role.
Talay acknowledged the emotional toll that comes with managerial change but warned that a new voice can spark immediate improvement.
“When there’s a change of coach, it’s always a clean slate for players,” he said. “It’s a great opportunity for those who maybe weren’t getting game time to showcase themselves. There’s always a lift when a new coach comes in.”
Greenacre’s appointment comes as no surprise to Talay, who worked closely with him during his time in Wellington.
“Greeny was my first assistant when I went over to Wellington. He’s been interim before, so it’s nothing new to him. He’s worked with the second team and the Under-20 national team as well. He’ll come in and try to implement what he believes is best in a short period of time. It’s a great opportunity for him to showcase what he can do.”
Despite Phoenix’s recent struggles, Talay made it clear his players will not underestimate the challenge — particularly away from home.
“Our focus is on playing our game and doing what we need to do. If you get an early goal in these games, sometimes heads can drop because of previous results, but the main thing is focusing on what we want to achieve. We want to finish in a great position at the end of the season, so we need to take all three points.”
Perspective on Pressure
Talay also reflected on the pressures of coaching, having spoken with Italiano in recent days following his resignation.
“It’s never nice for any coach to be sacked or resign because I’m in the same position — that’s the landscape we live in. When things don’t go well, they don’t change 26 players, they change the guy at the top.
“For him, it’s about processing what happened. It’s the first time in his career something like this has happened. You take the learnings from it and move forward.”
While speculation has linked Italiano with a potential return to Sydney in an assistant capacity, Talay dismissed any immediate move.
“That’s a question for him. He’s learned to stand on his own two feet as a Head Coach. At the moment, I’m very happy with the staff we have and how it’s working.”
Eyes on the Summit
With eight games remaining, Talay was unequivocal about his side’s ambitions.
“Every game is a must-win. We want to win every game. We’ve got opportunities against teams above us, and we need to make sure we pick up points and they drop points. What happens around us we can’t control — we just need to control what we can do.”
The Sky Blues head into the clash with a clean bill of health, a welcome boost as the season reaches its decisive stretch.
“Everyone’s available,” Talay confirmed. “It’s great. We were able to give a few players extra minutes last weekend, which helps with match fitness. It’s a great period for us to have everyone fit and ready.”
With confidence building, momentum regained and the run home beginning to take shape, Sydney FC know the equation is simple: keep winning — and let the rest unfold.
Match Details
Wellington Phoenix v Sydney FC
Isuzu UTE A-League Round 19
Sunday 1st March 2026
Hnry Stadium, Wellington, NZ
Kick Off: 1pm AEDT (3pm Local)
Broadcast Live: Paramount+
