Louis Verstraete: Auckland FC midfielder previews the must-win elimination final against Melbourne City

It was a rough run home for Auckland FC as they ended the regular A-League season with a five-game winless streak.  

As a result, Adelaide United jumped them to land in second place, relegating the Black Knights to an elimination final against reigning champions, Melbourne City. 

Auckland FC midfielder and club MVP Louis Verstraete joined D’Arcy to preview this must-win match. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talks. B Auckland FC struggled on the
round home the A League end of the regular season
five game winless run. The result of this was Adelaide
United jumping into the second place, leaving the Black Knights
with an elimination final tonight against Melbourne City if they

(00:28):
are to progress in the A League. Louis start is
a midfielder for Auckland FC. He was named club MVP
this season. He joined just now Maria Louis. Yeah, good morning,
big day, and there's an understatement, but this team, the
Auckland Football Club, you've been You've had big days every

(00:49):
weekend in the last couple of months, haven't you. It's
been a lot of pressure on you, blokes.

Speaker 2 (00:54):
Yeah, it feels like you though, but it's always when
the season comes to an end and everything is quite tight,
then every game feels like a final. So yeah, it
also feels that way that we have been under suppression lately,
but that's okay. I think we have we have we
have some experience in the in the team to to
help us deal with all the pressure. For example, Sakai
and myself included. Then we have many other players who

(01:17):
have been in the pressure environment, so we are we
are okay to deal with this.

Speaker 1 (01:23):
How are you going to pop through it? Because you
haven't really been sitting the win column on fire of
recent times, have you. It is a last win really,
so how do you deal with that pressure? How do
you convert this? Yeah?

Speaker 2 (01:36):
Like you said, we I think the results especially we
haven't had a win in a while, but I don't
think we have been playing bad for that matters. So
I think it's it's a question of things to start
changing and falling a little bit in our in our favor.
I think if we just keep doing what we're doing
and then the results will come. I'm one hundred percent
sure of it.

Speaker 1 (01:56):
And opposition wise, what are they going to bring? Because
playing the very well, doing what you want to do,
but you've you've got to live in blokes in your way,
So what are you what are you expecting in this?

Speaker 2 (02:05):
By Yeah, I think said as we know them. We
verst them already a lot of times, even in preseason,
so we've had a lot of games against them. We
know that they are they are quite strong on the ball,
but they also present some weaknesses defensively, so we we
train on it this week and we're going to try
to exploit their weaknesses as much as possible and take advantagees,

(02:26):
take it and and try to minimize their their threats.

Speaker 1 (02:30):
Message wise, what Steve Carriker being trying to push through
to you? Has he got a key message or does
he just yell at you all the time about it
about everything?

Speaker 2 (02:39):
No, it's especially for this game as well. We have
some tactical tactical guidelines, but I'm not going to share
this on air, so not to give for anything. But
we have a clear plan for this weekend. Then we're
going to try to put it into action as as
good as possible.

Speaker 1 (02:54):
You also hit a pretty big week yourself. You minutes
to pick up Club m VP. It's pretty impressive, mate.
You must be a wee bit proud about that.

Speaker 2 (03:01):
Oh yeah, thank you. Yeah, I'm actually quite proud of that.
It's especially in team like ours where there are so
many good players, are so many players who in my
few deserve the award as well. That makes it extra special.
So I feel very fortunate. Then, it's it's nice to
be recognized and it's a it's a it's quite the honor.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
I suppose you've got to get those awards out of
the way, but it strikes me slightly strange that you
you still have to finish your season yet maybe you
said the awards after that.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
Right, Yeah, I know that I haven't celebrated yet. Celebrations
will come after we we win, we win the Grand Finals,
So telebrate.

Speaker 1 (03:35):
Your own personal preparation because it's all very well, it's
about the team. But as an individual, what do you
have to bring to the midfield do you think.

Speaker 2 (03:42):
I think I'll have to bring what I've been bringing
all seasons is my my intensity and my my my
drive and jewels in the midfield and try to crush
the opposition midfield then and try to provide our attacking
plays with good supply of balls. So it's and keep
an eye on the on the defensive side as well
when we are attacking. So I'm actually focused on the

(04:03):
job I've been doing all season, and I've gone true,
I'm gonna try to do it to the best of
my abilities again this weekend.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
That's a good move. Sorry, that's a good move, right,
because well, you want the MVP by doing mate, So
there's no point in changing living is there?

Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, I think it's Also, it's not because it's a
final that you have to change everything up. I think
you have to try to stick towards you know what
you do best and don't overcomplicate things. So I just
I'm gonna try to do my job and just bring
just bring even more intensity, but just just focusing on
my tasks and nothing more than this.

Speaker 1 (04:38):
And as far as the team's concerned, there's a couple
of players under injury clouds. Can you fill us in
on there anymore.

Speaker 2 (04:45):
Louis Or Yeah, we have some we have obviously some injuries. Yeah,
I'm not I'm not going to say too much because
maybe in some cases it hasn't been decided yet. So
I'm just I'm not gonna respond on that question too
much because it hasn't been undresent sure yet.

Speaker 1 (05:04):
And I asked this question. I always to you come
finals time, in big matches about people's individuals that to change,
because they do change. I think you touched on it before.
Do you treat this game any differently knowing that you lose,
you're gone, you win your advancing, does that change the
way you prepare or think about the game.

Speaker 2 (05:23):
I think you can say. You can say, oh no,
it doesn't, it doesn't change it, but I think it does.
In my case, it does. There is a slight change
in the approach of the game and also the way
you play the game. I think you as a team
and as an individual, you take just a little bit
less risk is what you would otherwise do in other games,
because the stakes are higher. Again, so I think you

(05:45):
just try to minimize the risk and be fully focused
and just bring the extra intensity because in the final
you can always do a bit more. So try to
bring this little extra energy and focus to the game.

Speaker 1 (05:57):
You've had a very mercial season, the team up and
down and flatten all over the show. So based on
this random concept, I'd say you're going to and because
you've had draw and last, and draw, last and draw,
so it's about time. I think you've got it done
because that's the way the cards are reading, right.

Speaker 2 (06:15):
Yeah, it's so we are du will win and it
will be today.

Speaker 1 (06:18):
And on that Louis van started, Did I say that correctly?
I thank you very much for your time.

Speaker 2 (06:23):
Yeah, almost almost.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
The start here, this start here, I'll get there eventually.
Good on your Louis. Thanks mate. So here For more
from the Your Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave, listen live
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