‘We’re due for one’ — Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano on A-League derby
Wellington Phoenix head coach Giancarlo Italiano believes it’s time the fates favoured his side in their A-League derbies with Auckland FC.
“We must have smashed a couple of mirrors somewhere, because the amount of bad luck we’ve had over the last couple of seasons, we just haven’t had things go for us,” Italiano says.
After losing all five derbies between the sides, Italiano says: “We’re due for one.
“Again, the fans deserve it, the club deserves it. Things aren’t going off the park like we’d want, but we want to give something back.
“This is the best game to show the fans what we’re about.”
Italiano’s job has been made tougher with news that on-loan All White Sarpreet Singh has been ruled out for up to eight weeks with an MCL injury.
Tim Payne will also be absent with a hamstring issue, but English ‘keeper Josh Oluwayemi has returned to the squad for the first time this year.
READ MORE: Key players to miss A-League derby between Phoenix and Auckland FC >>>>
Auckland’s top scorer Sam Cosgrove has been ruled out of the derby, suspended after accumulating five yellow cards, but Italiano doesn’t expect the challenge to drop.
“The dynamic will still be the same; they’re very mobile in the front four.
“Cosgrove gives an outlet, not only in the box in terms of crosses. He’s a good scrappy player.
“They won’t have that, but they’ll still have aggression and speed up top.
“Whoever they play, it doesn’t really matter, they’ll still be a formidable opponent and we have to match that.”
And he believes the group will find success by staying “in the moment” in what promises to be a feisty game.
“The flavour of this game, the intensity is a little bit different. We need to be in the game for 90 minutes, stay calm, don’t make silly mistakes, and punish their errors.
“You can talk all the tactics, but the game itself has its own dynamic. They have to be flexible and mentally resilient.
“When you talk about emotion, how you navigate through a game, you can plan, but it really comes down to the ones who can stay in the moment.
“The group is maturing slowly, realising that even with inconsistencies with refereeing, with how the games fluctuate, they have to hold themselves to account.
“We don’t treat it any differently; we just focus on the opponent and tactically breaking them down. There’s no real talk about motivation and incentive; all the boys want to win.”
Past meetings
Most recent meeting: December 6, 2025 – Auckland FC 3 Wellington Phoenix 1
All-time A-League head-to-head: Phoenix 0W, Auckland 5W & 0D.
How to watch
The game will be broadcast live and free-to-air on Sky Open and LIVE on Sky Sport 1 in New Zealand, and on Paramount+ in Australia.
Acknowledgement
We thank the Wellington Phoenix for providing information for this story.
Fixture
Game to be played on Saturday February 21, 2026
Wellington Phoenix v Auckland FC
Sky Stadium, Wellington, 5pm (NZT)
Men’s A-League ladder
| Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle Jets | 17 | 11 | 0 | 6 | 40 | 29 | 11 | 33 |
| Auckland FC | 17 | 8 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 29 |
| Adelaide United | 18 | 9 | 2 | 7 | 32 | 27 | 5 | 29 |
| Sydney | 17 | 8 | 2 | 7 | 24 | 18 | 6 | 26 |
| Macarthur | 17 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 24 | 23 | 1 | 25 |
| Melbourne Victory | 17 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 24 | 22 | 2 | 24 |
| Melbourne City | 17 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 19 | 21 | -2 | 22 |
| Brisbane Roar | 18 | 6 | 4 | 8 | 18 | 23 | -5 | 22 |
| Wellington Phoenix | 17 | 5 | 5 | 7 | 28 | 33 | -5 | 20 |
| Perth Glory | 18 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 21 | 29 | -8 | 20 |
| Central Coast Mariners | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 21 | 24 | -3 | 19 |
| Western Sydney Wanderers | 17 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 15 | 23 | -8 | 17 |
Table at 6am (NZT) on Saturday February 21, 2026.
Squads
Wellington Phoenix (two to be omitted)
1. Josh Oluwayemi (Gk), 3. Corban Piper, 4. Manjrekar James, 7. Ifeanyi Eze, 8. Paulo Retre, 10. Nikola Mileusnic, 11. Carlo Armiento, 14. Alex Rufer (captain), 15. Isaac Hughes, 16. Sander Kartum, 17. Gabriel Sloane-Rodrigues, 18. Lukas Kelly-Heald, 20. Ramy Najjarine, 25. Kazuki Nagasawa, 27. Matt Sheridan, 28. Bill Tuiloma, 29. Luke Brooke-Smith, 30. Alby Kelly-Heald (Gk), 39. Jayden Smith.
In: 1. Josh Oluwayemi (Gk) (returning from injury), 24. Xuan Loke (promoted), 29. Luke Brooke-Smith (promoted).
Out: 6. Tim Payne (injured), 9. Sarpreet Singh (injured), 40. Eamonn McCarron (Gk) (omitted).
Unavailable: 6. Tim Payne (injured), 9. Sarpreet Singh (injured), 19. Nathan Walker (injured).
Auckland FC
1. Michael Woud, 2. Hiroki Sakai, 3. Jake Girdwood-Reich, 4. Nando Pijnaker, 6. Louis Verstraete, 7. Cameron Howieson, 8. Felipe Gallegos, 10. Guillermo May, 11. Marlee François, 12. Jimmy Hilton, 15. Francis de Vries, 17. Callan Elliot, 21. Jesse Randall, 22. Jake Brimmer, 23. Dan Hall, 27. Logan Rogerson, 35. Jonty Bidois, 77. Lachlan Brook.
In: 28. Bailey Ferguson (scholarship player)
Out: 9. Sam Cosgrove (suspension)
Unavailable: 20. Oli Sail (long-term injury)
Officials
Referee: Lachlan Keevers.
Assistant referees: Isaac Trevis, Adam Powers.
Fourth official: Tom Dale.
VAR: Adam Kersey.
Assistant VAR: Tim Danaskos.
This story was first published on February 21, 2026.
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