Being Boring Is a 'Huge Responsibility' for Stefan Marinovic

After starting 2019/2020 with four straight defeats, the Black and Yellow are currently nine unbeaten - but that doesn’t mean anything has changed in the way the squad prepares for, or plays, their games.

It’s a long season and Marinovic, along with the other, more experienced squad members, knows this. “The senior players and those who have seen a lot of games, that (experience) keeps us grounded,” he said.

“To keep on an even keel throughout the whole season is extremely important to us, mentally.”

Keeping their head down

Wellington take on Brisbane Roar on Saturday and welcome back David Ball and Alex Rufer to the squad. Ball had been missing due to a minor hip flexor injury, while Rufer is recovering from his knee issue.

The Roar haven’t had the greatest campaign but that doesn’t matter to Marinovic, who urged his teammates to keep things as boring and routine as possible over the next weeks and months.

“Each game is a new challenge and it’s not too easy or too hard,” continued the New Zealand native. “We work to try and keep it the same, training stays the same, nothing too much changes and its a huge responsibility and task for us.”

Solid foundations

Phoenix head coach Ufuk Talay has kept the faith with his defence throughout the season and that stability has helped to bring about results. Steven Taylor and Luke DeVere have played every single A-League game this campaign and Marinovic is loving their work and praised ‘the stability and experience of the two centre backs.’

The pair are so good, explained the goalkeeper, because ‘they know when to press and when to sit off, they’re strong in the air, that gives our full-backs and forward players more freedom to move forward because they know whats standing behind them is a solid back up.’

Together with Marinovic, Taylor and DeVere are helping the Phoenix to keep things boring and are on track for success because of it.