Alex Paulsen: Auckland FC goalkeeper ahead of the semi-final clash against Melbourne Victory

Auckland FC goal-keeper Alex Paulsen has been feeling the pressure ahead of the team's clash against the Melbourne Victory.

The winner will advance to the grand final, with the Black Knights in the box seat by holding a one-goal advantage.

Paulsen joined Piney to discuss further - and to look back on an 'awesome' season for the team.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from News Talks EDB.

Speaker 2 (00:12):
What a spot to be on game day Tyler Street
Sport at Britomart in downtown Auckland. Great to welcome in
Auckland FC and All Whites. Goalkeeper Alex Paulson. Thirteen clean
sheets this season, more than any other goalkeeper and some
absolutely spectacular saves. It's not a safe for Dawson to
deny Nichols.

Speaker 1 (00:32):
Fergus SAMs made.

Speaker 3 (00:38):
Dall here are deol is through Dan Hall.

Speaker 1 (00:41):
Great Saint Paulson to.

Speaker 2 (00:43):
Chase the game Now on Ruth for Sam Sulon water
up by sound what a say, Thank Paulton and on
the far side Man Sheridan Contentan just a few of
the wonderful saves that Alex Paulson has made this season,
he joins us. Now, Alex, thanks for taking the time
on match day. How have you stayed focused this week
with such a massive game waiting at the.

Speaker 3 (01:03):
End of it? Yeah, I mean it's obviously it's another
big game and you know, especially these playoff games, it
can be a bit difficult just to try your best
to focus on what you can control and focus on
your preparations leading into these games. But yeah, no, the
preparations are going well so far, and you know we're

(01:24):
just looking forward to, you know, hopefully getting a result
on the weekend.

Speaker 2 (01:28):
Last weekend in the First League, you didn't have to
make a save. I know you were heavily involved in
Goldmuth incidents, but there wasn't a shot on target that
you had to save. So what made those in front
of you so effective in Melbourne last weekend?

Speaker 3 (01:45):
I think personally for me, it's just a chemistry that
we have built over the cross of the whole season.
When you've got the likes of Dan Tommy and then
also Nando Pineker, they're the back line support it with
you know, Franny Scott Galloway and you know you got
Hierarchi and Colin Adiot as well. It's just amazing because
I think the chemistry that we've got across the whole

(02:06):
he's in that background. It's been pretty instrumental towards our
success as well, because you know, we have that that
passion and that hunger to really you know, put up
Bodi's on the line and you know, not just individually,
but do it for our teammates and do.

Speaker 2 (02:19):
Off the sub as well, and it was your thirteenth
clean sheet of the season. I know you're going to
talk more about the team than yourself, but do you
take a high degree of personal pride from a stat
like that?

Speaker 3 (02:32):
Yeah, First of in me, I think it's I think
it's an awesome achievement to have as well, and hopefully
I can get some more leading into the next couple
of games. But I think just on reflection, it's you know,
I think it's just a testament for you know, the
stuff that we have here as well to help and
support me all the way through. And I think also

(02:54):
coming off the backup last season, you know, I think
there's a lot of talk and a little bit of
white noise to see if you can do it again,
because I think I had like twelve clean sheet past
season as well. So it's just nice to, you know,
had that feeling that I can continue to do the
routines that come in a position where I got those
clean sheets last season, so then back it up again
this year.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Do you think you're a better goalkeeper now than you
were a year ago.

Speaker 3 (03:19):
I'd sam a more mature goalkeeper than I was a
year ago, just because of the experiences that I had
from last season as well, you know, being top of
the table and then unfortunately not going all the way,
and then this season kind of mirroring that and then
you know that's been a Premiers played and then now
got a semi final thing Grand finals to look forward
to it as well. So I definitely say matured along

(03:40):
the way.

Speaker 2 (03:41):
And we hear a lot about the goalkeepers union at
any club, it's not just a one man goalkeeping cohort.
There are others in there as well. How much help
have you got from the likes of the other keepers
Michael Vowed, Joe Knowles and also of course your goalkeeping
coach Jonathan Gould.

Speaker 3 (03:57):
Yeah. I mean they've been huge as well, especially you know,
towards my mental health towards these games as well, because
you know, if you look at John and Gold, he's
you know, he's played at Celtic and he's you know,
won the Premiership a couple of times, and you know,
I think to kind of peck his brains a little
bit heading into you know, those last public games towards

(04:19):
last towards the season, trying to make sure they win
the Premius play. I was able to learn a lot
of him. And then you look at Michael vald who's
you know a little bit older than me, but you
know he's also had that experience, not only in in Europe,
but you know plaid a Ben Japan, and he's you know,
been supporting me all the way through, even if you
look at some of the games, like he's been, you know,

(04:39):
hanging around near my goal in just you know, give
me words of affirmation and encouragement and you know, supporting
me and their times just calming me down and sometimes
you can be a bit panicky, and you know he's
just been there to help me on those games. And
you know, you look at Nolsey and and also Blake
Allian and Eli as well, like they've during trainings have
helped me out a lot. And you know, if I've

(05:01):
needed to have a little bit of extra work and
a couple of things, I've always you know, Padana to
help me out. So I think it's a testament not
like for my success, it has been because of the
group in itself. And as you said that.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
That Gold Coal re union last weekend, in the first leg,
obviously you came home with a you know, with a
clean sheet and and a one mill advantage in the tie,
so you know that if you don't concede in the
second league that you'll progress to the Grand Final. Is
there any temptation do you think to be a bit
more defensive in the second League or not?

Speaker 3 (05:34):
No, I don't think so. I think our mentality is
just to win the game, you know, treated like any
other game, and we know that we need to raise
a level even higher than what we did last week
because we really want to you know, push awards, you know,
making that history, make it a restgram funnel, and you know,
go on and win it. So I think we want
to take this game and it comes and make sure
that we have that winning mentality to go out there
and you know, you know, put it on a performance

(05:57):
for not only ourselves and the test, but also for
the fans and the family and the porter as well.
They comes to support us each in every game.

Speaker 2 (06:06):
You mentioned before about the rather unique situation you found
yourself in this season. Having played at the Phoenix for
several years, you ended up at Auckland FC. I thought
you handled yourself impeccably in what must have been a
challenging situation for you. With the benefit of looking back now, Ap,
how did you deal with that situation? So well, yeah,

(06:28):
I mean.

Speaker 3 (06:29):
You kind of spot on there. It was a challenging period,
especially with the whole the cacra's cause and eligibility to
play for Auglandiccy and then also just you know, being
an ex Wontington Finex player coming over to the rivals,
to their rival club as well, it can be a
little bit challenging. And I think it was just a
very intense period of time and I think it was

(06:50):
very hard for me to mentally wrap up, you know,
what actually had happened. And I think just looking back
and and just reflecting, and I think if I didn't
have the support crew that I have with an orbit
and also I found me in Wantington, I don't think
I would have had the ability to kind of keep

(07:11):
my head screwed on and kind of focus on what
I can control. So yeah, it was a challenging period,
and you know, I'm kind of glad, you know, we've
we've kind of looked past it and now I can
just switch on of the semi.

Speaker 2 (07:22):
Finals and well, yeah, like I said, I thought you
you handled yourself brilliantly during that that time, pretty well
publicized that you won't be at Auckland FC next season.
I don't expect you to tell us your next move,
but if you've got a fairly solid idea of where
you'll be next yeah, I mean.

Speaker 3 (07:38):
It's still kind of uncertain. So I'm just looking for
to being back with formanth and pre season and just
going from there.

Speaker 2 (07:45):
And before you even get the chance to do that,
you've obviously got the remaining game or games hopefully plural
this season. Then you've been named in the All Whites
to face Coat Deuvoir and Ukraine and Canada next month,
just over a year out from the World Cup. Now
how much you're looking forward to getting back into the
national team again.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
Yeah, I'm just grateful to be given the opportunity service
and always the privilege, and I'm just happy to be
reunouted with the sport again. So it'll be good fun
and you know, paying up against some some top quality
players and too hard to be good teams as well.

Speaker 2 (08:18):
Well, that's all I hit you. The immediate point of
business is Leg two of the semi final against Melbourne
victory at go Media. It's going to be a fantastic occasion, Alex.
Congratulations on a terrific season so far. I hope there's
a couple more games to come. Thanks for taking the
time for a chat.

Speaker 3 (08:33):
No worry, thanks Minie, thank you.

Speaker 2 (08:36):
You take care too, Mete. We'll see it tonight. Alex
Paulson their goalkeeper for Auckland FC.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
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