Gianni Stensness is revelling in the Central Coast Mariners’ rise from cellar dwellers to table toppers and hopes his strong form for the surprise A-League leaders will boost his chances of representing New Zealand at the Tokyo Olympics.
The under-23 international midfielder has been at the heart of the Mariners’ stunning resurgence and recently earned himself team of the week selection following a man of the match performance in a 2-0 win over reigning champions Sydney FC.
The Mariners finished bottom of the table in the previous three editions of the A-League but have defied pre-season predictions to win three of their first four games this season, and will be looking to continue their bright start when they host the winless Wellington Phoenix in Gosford on Sunday.
Although Stensness couldn’t put his finger on the exact reason for the upturn, the 21-year-old said the early results have given the Mariners the belief that they can kick on under coach Alen Stajcic and challenge for their first league title since 2013.
“It has been a dream start,” he said. “I don’t even think we would’ve thought with all the hard work that we’ve been putting in, you don’t really prophesize anything or think we’re going to win three of the first four games, but it’s such a good feeling to be winning.
“It’s a big change from last year and the feeling is just different in the squad now. We’ve got that winning feeling and we just want to keep getting that every week.
“Making the playoffs was our goal at the start of the season and the results that we have been getting show that we can definitely do it. That is certainly what we’re going for.”
Stensness was also pleased with his own individual form after cementing a spot in the starting XI and said his big goal for 2021 was to crack the under-23 squad for the Olympics, even though the Covid-19 pandemic has continued to cast doubt over the event actually going ahead.
“I put a lot of, I wouldn’t say pressure, but I’ve realised the importance of this season in the context of my career, especially coming up to the Olympics,” he said. “I said to myself ‘this is a huge season for yourself’ and consequently I’ve put a lot of work into pre-season.
“The last pre-season with the Mariners was shorter, I signed midway through the pre-season and it was a little bit interrupted with the New Zealand under-23 team qualifying for the Olympics so I put a pressure on myself like ‘it’s time to step up’.
“I always felt like I had the ability to step up to another level and then it’s just carrying through on that. I’ve had some good performances and this season I think I’m just less erratic than I was last season.
“I had good moments but more bad moments and was less consistent last season. That’s the main change and that just comes with having a season under your belt and coming into the new season more confident about yourself.”
The Australian-born Stensness was recently invited to attend a video conference with the extended All Whites squad and will get another chance to impress New Zealand coach Danny Hay, who is also overseeing the Olympic Games programme, when the Mariners host the Phoenix on Sunday evening.
He said he was looking forward to the clash against his former club, having been given his big break by former Phoenix coach Mark Rudan two seasons ago before rejoining the Mariners, where he was a member of the youth academy.
“Obviously there’s a lot of players that I’ve played with in the New Zealand set-up and the Phoenix,” he said. “It’s just a little bit of added motivation but still the biggest motivation is getting the three points and staying at the top of the table.”
