Western Sydney Wanderers head coach Ufuk Talay says his side are ignoring what happened last season and are fully focused on upsetting the apple cart this Friday night in the season-opening Sydney Derby.
The Wanderers head into the 2026/27 A-League Men season with the unwanted tag of ‘Wooden Spooners’ after disastrous 2025/26 campaign which saw them finish dead last.
Much has changed in Western Sydney heading into the new season though with former Sky Blues boss Talay now coaching the Wanderers.
WE CALL IT FOOTBALL: A-Leagues launch fresh content line-up for new season
A former Sydney FC player and then coach, Talay has overseen a complete squad rebuild during the off-season, with him now being in charge of the opposition certain to add more fuel to what is always a fiery encounter.
“Yeah, look, that’s all part of the game,” Talay said when asked about him crossing the divide when speaking at Monday’s Sydney Derby press conference.
“At the end of the day, I’ll be here to prepare the boys and get them to try to perform at their best so we can get the best outcome.
He added: “The Derby is probably one of the best sporting occasions in this country.
“It’s a great atmosphere, I think we get a great turnout [and] I think the game is always quite feisty.
“I’ve had some very joyous moments on the other side of the fence, and hopefully we can do that now with the Wanderers.”
In total eight players departed the Wanderers following their last-place finish with Talay and his football department bringing in a plethora of new faces, including A-leagues Championship-winning defender German Ferreyra, treble-winner Miguel Di Pizio from the Central Coast Mariners and 2025 Johnny Warren Medallist Nicolas Milanovic.
“We’ve tried to implement certain things with the group,” Talay said when asked what the club has done to try and change things from the previous season.
“We don’t look at the past. We learn from the past.
“So we always look ahead at what we can do and what can change and what we can achieve and I think the group’s had very good buy-in and very good belief in what we’re trying to do.
“So we’re only looking forward at the moment. Yes, the past is the past. They’re good learning learning moments for us, but we look ahead.”
Despite a disappointing 2025/26 season Talay has shown faith in Socceroos forward Brandon Borrello, naming the 31-year-old as the club’s new captain.
Whilst the decision to hand Borrello the armband certainly isn’t a surprise, the decision to strip incumbent of the armband, goalkeeper Lawrence Thomas, is.
WANDERERS EXCLUSIVE: Socceroo’s brutal take on Wooden Spoon campaign and why things are now different
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 28: Lawrence Thomas of the Wanderers warms up before the Sydney Super Cup match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Chelsea FC at Accor Stadium on July 28, 2026 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images)
However Talay believes his shot-stopper won’t be affected by the decision.
“Yeah, we expect a big season from all the players. We had a discussion with Loz (Thomas) and my thoughts of the armband and where it should be on the park.
“At the end of the day, I think he was quite good with it. These things happen in football.
“Wearing an armband doesn’t make you a leader, and he’s one of our most experienced players as well within the team.
“So he’s in our leadership group, and I think he still plays an important role within that change room.”
The Wanderers kick-off the new A-League Men season on Friday, October 16 as they head into enemy territory to face Sydney FC at Allianz Stadium.
CLICK HERE TO GET YOUR TICKETS TO THE SYDNEY DERBY
