Auckland City coach Albert Riera: ‘I got the tactics wrong last week’

posted in: News, OFC Champions League

Auckland City head coach Albert Riera says he got his team’s tactics wrong in the first leg of their OFC Champions League play-off against Wellington Olympic — but his players will be tactically and mentally ready for the second leg.

City host Olympic at Kiwitea St at 4pm on Saturday March 18 for a second leg encounter that will decide which club will represent New Zealand at the OFC Champions League tournament in May.

The sides drew 1-1 in the first leg at Wellington’s Martin Luckie Park.

Riera told Auckland City’s website:

“I have to be honest, the way we were playing tactically didn’t work.

“That was my bad. I said that to the players. But I am fortunate to have a good team — even if tactically it’s not working they can work around it.”

Riera said in the second half, his team corrected the tactical approach.

“In the second half we played the way we wanted and took over and dominated. Sometimes it takes longer, especially when you play against good sides like Olympic, but we can’t get carried away. It was a draw.”

His side will aim to qualify for the OFC Champions League a record 11th time.

“We like to play these games, we want to play these games. The players are tactically and mentally ready, we know we’re playing against a very good team but playing at home in front of our home crowd means a lot.”

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Fixture

Game to be played on Saturday March 18, 2023

Auckland City v Wellington Olympic
Kiwitea St, Sandringham, Auckland, 4pm (NZT)

Match programme

How to watch

The match will be live-streamed by OFC Media. You can watch it here:

Likely squads

The following squads are anticipated based on players available for the first leg tie:

Auckland City

1 — Conor Tracey (GK)
2 — Mario Ilich
3 — Adam Mitchell
4 — Christian Gray
5 — Michael Den Heijer
6 — Dan Morgan
7 — Cam Howieson (captain)
8 — Gerard Garriga
9 — Angus Kilkolly
10 — Dylan Manickum
11 — Ryan De Vries
12 — Regont Murati
13 — Nathan Lobo
14 — Jordan Vale
15 — Aidan Carey
16 — Joe Lee
17 — Iham Hameedi
19 — Liam Gillion
20 — Emiliano Tade
21 — Tong Zhou
22 — Adam Bell
23 — Matt Ellis
24 — Joe Wallis (GK)
25 — Takuya Iwata
26 — Rayan Tayeb

Coaching staff

Head Coach: Albert Riera
Assistant Coach: Ivan Vicelich
Goalkeeper Coach: Enaut Zubikarai
Technical: Adria Casals and Jarrod Wallace
Logistics: Colin Cook
Physio: Matt Payne
Trainer: Adria Casals

Wellington Olympic

1 — Scott Basalaj
2 — Josh Rogerson
4 — Alex Palezevic
5 — Justin Gulley
6 — Tor Davenport Petersen
7 — Joel Stevens
8 — Oliver Van Rijssel
9 — Hamish Watson
11 — Nathanael Hailemariam
12 — Christopher Kotrotsos (GK)
14 — Jack-Henry Sinclair
15 — Ben Mata (captain)
16 — Joshua Apaapa-Preston
18 — Theo Ettema
19 — Samuel Mitrakas
20 — Tamupiwa Dimairo
21 — Ryan Feutz
23 — Gavin Hoy
24 — Derek Tieku
25 — Merlin Luke-Miny
30 — Connor Gaul
33 — Birhanu Taye
34 — William Vincent

Coaching staff

Head coach: Rupert Kemeys
Assistant coach: Jamie O’Connor
Goalkeeper coach: Steve Dimakis
Team manager: Scotta Roche
Physio: Brogan Treanor
Gear steward: Matthew Kolic
Head of delegation: Matthew Calcott
Sports scientist: James Keegan
Video analyst: Johnny Thompson

Officials

Referee: CK Kawana-Waugh

Assistants: Mark Rule, Edward Cook

Fourth official: Luke Gardiner

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