Steve Corica: Auckland FC Head Coach discusses changes made over the break and the season opener against Melbourne

Auckland FC are set to face Melbourne in the opening match of the 2025/26 A-League season.

The match mirrors last year's semi final where Melbourne defeated Auckland FC to progress to the final.

Auckland FC Head Coach Steve Corica joined Jason Pine to talk about what changes the team made since last season, what lessons were learned ahead of their season opener against Melbourne, and what they can do to avoid a repeat of last year's matchup.

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Episode Transcript

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

Speaker 2 (00:12):
The New A League men's football season is finally here,
Adelaide United and Brisbane Raw with home wins to start
their respective campaigns last night. Reigning Premier's Auckland FC take
on Melbourne Victory at Amy Park and their season opener
tonight from nine to thirty five. New Zealand time head
coach of the team of Steve Corriker. He's with us. Steve,

(00:35):
I'm not actually sure if there is such a thing
as second season syndrome, but if there is, how do
you avoid it?

Speaker 3 (00:44):
Forget about the first year and just concentrate on the
second obviously, so yeah, obviously a lot of the teams
know us now. We're no surprise to anyone. But I'm
more excited because the second year it's whether we can
be as consistent as we were in the first year.
For me, if we could do that well, then we've
got a great chance of going back to back for

(01:06):
premierships and hopefully one better in the Grand Final.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
How have you managed to retain the hunger in the
playing group that you instilled so successfully in season one?

Speaker 3 (01:20):
I think we've put in four really good players. Competition
for places is always a good way. Fresh faces and
no uncertain really of their position, and you know with
new players coming in there's competition and it's been really good,
especially also you know, from the goalkeeper to the strikers. Yeah,

(01:41):
I'm looking forward to selecting my first team. We've had
a couple of injuries as well along the way in
pre season, so we're starting to get players back and
then starting to fit for the start of the season.

Speaker 2 (01:53):
I want to ask about a couple of those new faces.
The first English striker Sam Cosgrove. Tell us about him
and what he will bring to your side.

Speaker 3 (02:03):
Well, we looked at our squad last year. We get
a lot of into the box, so we wanted obviously
to go with a little bit of a bigger striker,
one that holds the ball up good in the air
that you know, when we do get deliveries into the
box that he can go and score his goals. He
links up well with player as well for you know,
getting other players into the game, So we looked at

(02:24):
that for him and you know, so far he's shown
what he can do and it's been a good preseason
for him. He's obviously starting to get a lot fitter
now to what we expect him to do because I
ask a lot from our strikers defensively, but he's looking
at a lot fitter and ready to go.

Speaker 2 (02:43):
And Lachlan Brook also comes in. Is he kind of
a like for like for Nate Armadino or is he
a different type of player a little bit different.

Speaker 3 (02:52):
I think he's you know, he's very comfortable on the ball,
very technical player, can score goals. He's got a good
cross as well, which we looked at for Sam as well,
which could could help him. He can play as a
ten or in the white areas as well, so it
gives us good flexibility with him as well. Obviously, Nada

(03:15):
scored you know, numerous amount of goals last year. I
think it was about nine I think he got, so
you know, he's got to try and chip in as
well with a lot of goals. The last time he
was in the A League he scored nine with Wonderers,
so we're hoping we get much of the same return
from him.

Speaker 2 (03:31):
Who's going to play and goal for you in your
first game?

Speaker 3 (03:35):
Well, at the moment of Michael Michael will be goals
for the first game, so you know he's waited a
long time, Michael, He's had obviously Alex in front of
him and didn't get a sniff last year. Obviously Alex
played every game and that's his opportunity. So the rest
is up to him. I can only give him the
opportunity to to do what we expect from him, and

(04:00):
then you know, that's it. I reckon he will, he
will take it with both hands, and obviously you know
Olie's there to push him along all the way. And
you know we're we're happy to have Olie and obviously
an Awkfland boy as well. It's great to have two
very good goalkeepers like we did last season.

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Has your message to Olie similar to what your message
watched to Michael last season, Just just keep the pressure on,
wait for the opportunity if and when it comes along.

Speaker 3 (04:26):
Yeah, exactly, you know that's all. And he knew that
from from the start. Oli did when he when he
came in, so you know, stow secret, he made it
clear at the moment he's number one, and then you
know it's up to you to either push him out
or do everything you can to you know, to keep
him on his toes. At least. So it's they get

(04:48):
on really well. They have a good combination. I think
they're the good banter. So I'm really pleased with both
of them.

Speaker 2 (04:54):
Will you play in largely the same way as you
did last season?

Speaker 3 (05:01):
Yeah? Possibly. I think we've got a few options, different options.
Like I said, we can play with the ten, we
can play with the two. When Cosmo plays, he's playing
like a ten anyway with now with Big Sam and
and Jesse's had a very good pre season as well,
Jesse Randall. So yeah, we've got a few different options
to choose from. We went with a back five also

(05:22):
last season when we needed to, and you know, that's
an option. I think at some stage I would say.

Speaker 2 (05:30):
You have been around the league for a long time, Steve,
as we all know as a player and as a coach.
Did you learn anything new last season? Anything new about
the league? I guess from being in a startup club
or being in a different country that will be valuable
to you this time around.

Speaker 3 (05:45):
I just, you know, I just enjoyed the experience of
you know, coaching, and obviously in New Zealand starting our
new club, that was really exciting for me. And obviously
you know, Terry Doug. We all we've all enjoyed, you know,
putting a good team together in the first season. Like

(06:07):
I said, for me, now it's about I think we've
done that. We showed we've got very good players, good
talented young locals as well, and now it's time to
show that we can do it again.

Speaker 2 (06:19):
You mentioned a couple of injuries there. I think Nanda
Pinik is still a couple of weeks away, as need Phelipe,
Guy Goss. The other one, is it just those two
Steve anybody else not in contention week one?

Speaker 3 (06:29):
No, I think it should be only them two. You know,
we hade Pushermo out for four to five weeks as
well as Dan Hall. But they both played last week
against Melbourn City and a friendly, so they've come through
and they should be fine for the weekend. But it
bit of the two that you mentioned there at the moment.

Speaker 2 (06:51):
In Melbourne victory. First up, how much extra spice on
this one given they were the side to deny you
a spot on the Grand Final last season.

Speaker 3 (07:00):
Yeah, obviously very spicy. We're looking forward to it. I
think being away from home also put a lot of
pressure on them. Being at home first game of season.
We want revenge, so I think it's going to be
a very good encounter. They're a good team. They've they've
strengthened I think as well. They've they've had a few
players leave and go overseas and I think they've brought

(07:21):
in some really good players as well. So Arthur Dillis
is doing a good job there. And yeah, yeah, I'm
looking forward to the first game. Obviously, you want to
get off to a winning start, so hopefully we can
do what we've done down in Melbourne in recent times
and get the three points to come home with them.

Speaker 2 (07:40):
And I know you're very much a game at a
time kind of boss, but how keen are you to
continue your dominance and the Derby's against Wellington Phoenix this season, Well,
I'm looking.

Speaker 3 (07:50):
Forward to them. They're very excited. The first thing you
look at when the fixtures come out. Yeah, that's that's
another thing. You know, we've got two away this year.
We want to continue winning and not you know, go
as long as possible without them beat us. So they're
obviously going to be tough again. Derby's are always tough,

(08:13):
especially the first one, so hopefully we get similar results
that we did last season against them.

Speaker 2 (08:20):
All right, Steve, We'll leave it there mate, Thanks indeed
for joining us on game day, Steve Corriker, head coach
of Auckland FC.

Speaker 1 (08:27):
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