Wellington Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano has responded to Auckland FC coach Steve Corica’s post-match comments and said he "may have touched a nerve" leading into the Kiwi derby last weekend.
After Auckland FC's 2-1 win over the Phoenix, Corica said in a post-match interview that he found Italiano's comments about his team being "lucky" disrespectful.
Italiano appeared on football show Total A-Leagues on Wednesday and was asked about the situation.
“I don’t make it a personal thing. I was quite surprised he (Corica) would do that. It obviously got under his skin a little bit," Italiano said on the show.
“For me, I make the point that I made in the press conference that was taken out of context, or maybe even in context - I don’t really care to be fair.
“I just made the point that when you’re playing five out of six games in New Zealand, you really haven’t had to go through the rigmarole of going through the process of travelling, getting back, getting the players adjusted… and how you deal with the wear and tear.
“Whether you call it luck, good scheduling, poor scheduling – my point is nowhere in the world does a team play five out of six games (at home)."
In the week leading into the derby, Italiano said he felt Auckland FC were “there for the taking” and “very lucky in their past four games”, referring to their draw of playing most of their matches in New Zealand.
Italiano went on to describe a run of away games that A-League club Perth Glory had in the past, and how important a home advantage can be.
“The irony of this for me, I remember a couple of years ago, Terry McFlynn was at Perth Glory. They had eight games away from home and I think they didn’t win a game away. Ironically when they went back home and had a run of six-eight games, they started to pick up results.
“That’s just the point I was trying to illustrate. When you have momentum and win games, there is a belief. But again, until they start going through that then they will start building a bit of credibility around the league.”
He said he wasn't interested in mind games with other coaches.
“I don’t like getting into other coaches [heads]. I actually don’t care about other coaches to be fair. They have their own problems like I do. I would never try to play mind games before a game, that’s not my take. The fact I’m clearing up these statements, I think is a lack of understanding on their part.
“Or, the other way of looking at it, is quite smart on their part using it as motivation for themselves. Again, maybe also I may have touched a nerve.”
The fifth-placed Phoenix are back at Sky Stadium this week for the first time since their 2-0 loss to Auckland in November in the first Kiwi derby.
Since that match, the Nix have picked up two victories in Australia against both finalists from last season’s A-League grand final, followed by last weekend's loss in Auckland.
They host eighth-placed Macarthur FC on Saturday with kick-off at 5pm.
League leaders Auckland FC have the tough task of travelling to play Melbourne City at AAMI Park on Sunday.
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