Steve Corcia: Auckland FC Head Coach on the must-win game tomorrow

Auckland FC have 180 minutes to secure their place in the grand final, when they take on the Melbourne Victory tomorrow.

Melbourne Victory are regarded as one of the league’s most dominant clubs, boasting four championships and three premierships.

Auckland FC Head Coach Steve Corcia talks to Heather du Plessis-Allan ahead of the momentous game.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now Auckland f C's got the Premier's plate in the bag.
But now for the next bit, it's the playoff run.
It starts tomorrow against the Melbourne victory in Melbourne. Steve
Corriker is Auckland f C's head coach.

Speaker 2 (00:10):
He Steve Hi, I'm very well.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Thank you. You must be feeling super confident.

Speaker 2 (00:16):
You're super confident and looking forward to it as well
as a very exciting time for us to be first
year in the job and in our first semi final.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Have you ever gone into a playoff series feeling this
confident and with such an amazing track rical behind you.

Speaker 2 (00:33):
I probably have before we were in Sydney when I
was there we won the double that year. But I
think you don't want to be too over confident. I
think you know we did a fantastic job during the
season to win the premiership in our first year, but
you know the finals are a different ball game and
we have to respect the team that we're going to
be playing against on Saturday, and we don't want any

(00:55):
complacency from our team. We have to make sure that
we're ready for the challenge ahead.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
Mate, being involved as you are as the head coach,
have you stopped and just reflected on what a remarkable
thing this year that this year has been, that you
guys have set up a team and you've got all
the way to this point already and won the Premiers played.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Not really yet. I think the ball's still going at
the moment. We're still focusing on the semi finals. And
you know, our main aim is to get to the
final and do the double in our first year. That
would be something amazing. But right now we're just going
with the flow we see, preparing for the next game,
and I think at the end of the season, hopefully
we will have two trophies and we can really reflect.

(01:37):
And you know, we hear from a lot of people
how you know, the communities come together, that we're doing
such a great job for the community, and that's very
nice to hear.

Speaker 1 (01:46):
I ask this of everybody that I talked to about
this team, and I'm going to ask this of you.
How the hell has this happened?

Speaker 2 (01:52):
Like?

Speaker 1 (01:53):
What has Bill Foley got? What is this business model
that he talks about that works?

Speaker 2 (01:59):
It looks like ever he touches turns the goals. So yeah, no,
I think you know, the most important thing is bringing
in the right people good people as well, people that
are hungry to succeed and to win for us, and
obviously they've got to be good footballers as well. So
I think we've got a really good blend of players
and coaching.

Speaker 1 (02:18):
Staff saying so you're saying, okay, it's talented people, but
it's people with something to prove as well.

Speaker 2 (02:26):
Of course. You know, I think for me, every year
you've got something to prove, you know. I think it's
just having that mentality to always try and keep winning.
You know, this is our first year, so you know
it's it's probably an easy one because it's a startup club.
We've done something only one of the club in the
A League has ever done, which is Wonderers. You know,

(02:48):
they got to the final as well in their first
year and they lost. So our aim is to go
one better and to try and clinch the double.

Speaker 1 (02:55):
Why are the tickets so expensive? By the way, this
is what people are talking.

Speaker 2 (02:58):
Abou about run by the APL. Now it's not from
our club. So but you know, I'm sure definitely next
week our supporters will get right behind us, be a
full stadium at go Media. They put in extra seats
for that and yeah, we're looking forward to coming home
and hopefully being in a good position to give ourselves
the best chance to win.

Speaker 1 (03:17):
Steve, good luck. I don't think you need it, but
good luck. Thank you so much, Steve Coriker Auckland FC
head coach. For more from Hither Duplessy Allen Drive, listen
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