Auckland FC Head Coach, Pedro Moreira spoke to the media today before the team heads to Australia to play Western Sydney & Brisbane
Moreira’s opening A-League fixture at Go Media Stadium was a success, with the side scoring three spectacular goals and beating Melbourne City 3-1 to take all three points from the opening round of the A-League.
“We were compact, we were aggressive in a defensive moment, and we achieved the main goal with a quality goal that allowed us to be in front,” said Moreira on the opening weekend win.
“We were very good collectively, and that’s why we probably had such a huge second half, and we were in front of this game.”
Moreira’s first game against Australian opposition was a 3-1 preseason defeat against this weekend’s opposition at McLean Park in Napier, with the Head Coach giving praise to the Wanderers side.
“It’s a hard opponent (Western Sydney). They had an amazing preseason, after a difficult season, they really rehabilitated this season with an experienced coach.”
“It will be a hard game against a good opponent”, said Moreira.
Moreira’s side went 2-0 down early on in that preseason outing, the coach saying the early moments of the upcoming fixture will be key.
“The first moments of the game, it will be important. And the way that we create the demands against a quality team, again, like I saw, with the quality players, especially the new ones, also increases the quality of the team.”
The new faces Moreira mentions include arrivals, Nicolas Milanovic from Aberdeen, Germán Ferreya from Melbourne City, and familiar face Liam Gillion.
Even after a superb Round 1 win over Melbourne City, Moreira conceded that he isn’t 100% happy with where the team is at.
“We’re never completely happy,” said Moreira.
“So we are looking all the time for the next step, for the next game, for the next situation. Us as coaches looking to control what was not so good in the last game and to prepare for the next one.”
Speaking of things outside of the team’s control, Moreira highlighted the surface at CommBank Stadium as a concern with the RLWC being played at the ground the day before the A-League fixture.
“I worry about the quality of the games, and the difference with the rugby games before our game could make a difference,” said Moreira.
“It’s probably a reason why the Sydney derby wasn’t a good game… but I must be worried about things that I can control, and if I cannot play with the quality that I train because of that, it could be a problem.”
The match Moreira refers to was the opening A-League fixture of the season, the Sydney derby between Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers, which finished an ugly 0-0 draw.
The game was played the day after Australia played New Zealand in the RLWC, which left the pitch in less than ideal conditions for the A-Leagues opening fixture.
Lastly, Moreira shone the spotlight on Luka Vicelich and Van Fitzharris, saying that the young lads will be a crucial part of the squad this season.
“We have a few young players on the squad, I think they are ready,” said Moreira.
“Van Fitzharris entered in only the 80th minute, I think he ended very well. I think that Luka gave a good answer for us in the game and I hope that he can be useful for the future.”
UPCOMING –
🏟️A-League Round 2
⚔️Western Sydney Wanderers (A)
🗓️24/10 @ 7pm NZT
🏟️A-League Round 3
⚔️Brisbane Roar (A)
🗓️30/10 @ 10pm NZT
