Western Sydney Wanderers captain Nikolai Topor-Stanley says his side was brutally punished for making crucial errors during the first half of Sunday's A-League grand final against Adelaide United.

The Reds ultimately ran out 3-1 winners in front of more than 50,000 fans, sparking wild celebrations across the city as United claimed their first A-League championship after grand final defeats in 2007 and 2009.

But it's the Wanderers who were left to lament another loss in the title decider after losing to Central Coast to 2013 and Brisbane Roar in 2014 - and their captain said it was down to making bad decisions at the wrong time.

"They were pretty efficient capitalising on our mistakes and we took a little bit too long to get going," Topor-Stanley said after the match. "They just performed better than us when it counted."

However, the Wanderers skipper said he never gave up hope that his men would dig their way out of trouble and find a way back into the game, even when they fell 2-0 down.

"We always create chances in every game we play, so I don't think it's something we've lacked in our game. [You just have] to convert every one," he said. "We've just got to keep on going, believe that we'll score. We got one back but it's just unfortunate we just couldn't get the second one.

"I don't think we played a different way or panicked. We were just unable to get it."

Topor-Stanley, who has played in all three grand final defeats, said although it was a familiar feeling, it never gets any easier to be on the losing side.

"Each one has been different but you never know when you'll take part again in a grand final," he said. "It's 28 games to get there and it's a long way and hard work to get there."

The veteran defender agreed with his coach's assertion that Adelaide resorted to long-ball tactics in order to break the Wanderers down.

"I guess they felt that was the way that they could get into the game and they did," he said.

When asked if the players were emotionally-drained after their semi-final victory over Brisbane Roar, Topor-Stanley was blunt: "not at all".

The defender was subject to a $3 million transfer offer from Beijing Guoan in December and is widely expected to be leaving the club in June, when the Chinese Super League transfer window re-opens.

"I've still got another season on contract," he said. "But we'll see how we go."

For Reds skipper Eugene Galekovic, the victory was proof that the Reds have the very best coach in the A-League, Guillermo Amor.

"He's an absolute champion. He's the best coach in Australia and more importantly he's a fantastic person," he said. "We're so proud to have him as coach of the team. It's been a few big weeks [for Adelaide] we we'll enjoy tonight."

Galekovic said the team had to respond when the Wanderers came hard in the second half but showed their character by holding on.

"I'm so proud of the team today, it was such a great effort," he said. "At 2-0 we were quite comfortable and then they scored to put pressure on us," he said. "Then Pablo Sanchez comes on and secures it for us. It's something you can't explain."

The longest-serving player at Adelaide United, having joined the club from Melbourne Victory in 2007, Galekovic said he was most pleased to win the title for the club's long-suffering fans.

"I've been here a long time and finally got the chocolates," he said. "50,000 South Australians here and they helped us today. We can't thank them enough."