After a 0-0 draw to start their second A-League season Auckland FC return home this weekend as they take on the Western Sydney Wanderers on Saturday afternoon.
Louis Verstraete is a midfielder for the Black Knights and he spoke to Adam to preview the clash.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
We are talking football now both here we A League
teams got their new seasons underway with draws on the
road last weekend, and both Auckland FC and the Wellington
Phoenix stage their first home games of the campaign as
part of Round two this weekend. Tomorrow the Phoenix are
back at Sky Stadium and the Capitol hosting Brisbane Raw
(00:50):
from three pm. But today Auckland FC back at their
fortress at Mount Smart Stadium after last year's brilliant sellout crowds.
They host the Western Sydney Wanderers a five o'clock kickoff
there this evening. Let's head into the Auckland FC camp now,
but field that Louis Vestrata is with us. Morning to you, Louie,
and a little drawer to get things on the way.
(01:11):
Against the victory last week, Ken, how did you guys
look back on that one afterwards?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I think generally we were we were quite satisfied with
the performance. Obviously there were areas we could have improved on,
but I think the clean sheet is is a very
very good point and we we should take this along
and to the next game. Yeah, I think we could
we could have done things a little bit better. Also,
we are always quite critical for ourselves, but overall, I
(01:39):
think we were satisfied with the first game and it
shows that this year again, we don't want to grow
in games just taking a point. We want to win
games and we should have won last week and that's
our aim every single game this season.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And Louie, watching the Sky documentary about your amazing season
last year, it all looked pretty rushed as things came
together right before you first kicked off. How's the lead
up begun to this season in comparison.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, of course it's been. It's been way better than
last year. Obviously I was only there for the last
month of the preseason last year, but the team has
stayed largely the same with a few few new players.
So there is a structure we can build on from
last year and we can find tune the things that
they could have We have could have done better last year,
(02:26):
so it was a different preseason. Also with the Cups
obviously if we reached the semi finals, so we had
some competitive games as well. So this prepared us a
little bit better for the new season and.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
The game last weekend. You managed to get away some
shots on target. I know, but I'm sure you would
have far preferred finding the back of the knit. But
the early indications of your own form this season, Louis,
you're happy.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah. I was satisfied with my performance last week. Like
I said, generally, for the team, for me personally, we
always want to improve on the details and a small thing,
so I want to I want to do even better tomorrow.
But in general I was satisfied with my game and
like you said, I came close to scoring last week.
Can hopefully I can do it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, And you mentioned the word tweaks. In terms of
the way the team's roster has changed this year, there's
obviously still a lot of consistency in terms of returning players.
What are the biggest difference is in the Awkland FC
team this season?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
That's a good question. I think our team identity is
stayed the same. I think the discover new players to
fit the profile of the team and the way we
play the high intensity we repressed and I think with
a new player that I don't think we have changed
a lot. In general, I think every player obviously brings
(03:42):
something different to the table, but I think you're going
to see a similar year than last year. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Now there's been a bit of chatter around Lewis, some
people calling it the second season syndrome, the triple s,
the suggestions that teams across the competition now have a
better idea of how you're playing and have a better
idea of how best to shut you down now that
you've been going for a season. Do you agree with
that kind of sentiment.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I'm not sure. I think it's always it's it's a
competitive league, so I think it's always challenging. I think
the benefits from this year is that we we know
each other already way better than last year. Last year
was a team from scratch, so we have a step
ahead in that regards teams. Obviously they know it's a
little bit better, but I think of the of the
(04:30):
five six rounds they had, everybody does game analysis, so
they had a quite clear idea of how we played,
so I think they knew it all season and still
we we win the premiership. So I think this year,
even though they know our strength and our weaknesses, we
we will still be very very hard to beat.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Be yourself, Louis what kind of personal goals have you
set yourself this season.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Last year I was in the I was in the
Team of the Year, and I want to do the
same this year. I want to I want to help
out the team every single game and be a be
be a consistent, a consistent performer in the in the squad,
and I want to end up again in the Team
of the season that that reflects on a successful season.
(05:15):
And obviously when when the titles are remaining, the two
more titles, the Premiership and and your Grand Final as well,
you want to I want to win it all. So yeah,
that's the end for this year.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, I love it. And your first home game of
the season later on today, first chance to play in
front of the port supporters and all your other loyal
fans that packed out the stadium last year. How excited
a to be back at go Mediamount Smart. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
We we trained there for the first time again this morning. Yeah,
it was. It was a good, good feeling that it
felt like being home again and I'm looking forward to
to playing in front of the crowd again. It's going
to be very nice.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And your opponents, the Swan Western Sydney, they had a
draw last weekend they did get on the score sheets.
What are you expecting it from them? And how have
you prepared specifically for their challenge tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Gets It's a strong team. We reverse the twice last
year and they have they have some some quality players.
They also did some good trendswers, so I think their
team is better than last year. Okay, we we respect them,
but I think I think we will beat them, but
we have to respect them as an opponents and try
(06:26):
to to to yeah, to just play to our strength
and their weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I would say, all all the beast, slowly looking forward
to saying back at home the same thing. Thanks for
your time here on News Talks et Beat this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, thank you, no problem.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
For more from the old Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talks It'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the All Sport Breakfast podcast with Darcy
Waldgrave from News Talk SEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:28):
We are talking football now both here we A League
teams got their new seasons underway with draws on the
road last weekend, and both Auckland FC and the Wellington
Phoenix stage their first home games of the campaign as
part of Round two this weekend. Tomorrow the Phoenix are
back at Sky Stadium and the Capitol hosting Brisbane Raw
(00:50):
from three pm. But today Auckland FC back at their
fortress at Mount Smart Stadium after last year's brilliant sellout crowds.
They host the Western Sydney Wanderers a five o'clock kickoff
there this evening. Let's head into the Auckland FC camp now,
but field that Louis Vestrata is with us. Morning to you, Louie,
and a little drawer to get things on the way.
(01:11):
Against the victory last week, Ken, how did you guys
look back on that one afterwards?
Speaker 3 (01:17):
I think generally we were we were quite satisfied with
the performance. Obviously there were areas we could have improved on,
but I think the clean sheet is is a very
very good point and we we should take this along
and to the next game. Yeah, I think we could
we could have done things a little bit better. Also,
we are always quite critical for ourselves, but overall, I
(01:39):
think we were satisfied with the first game and it
shows that this year again, we don't want to grow
in games just taking a point. We want to win
games and we should have won last week and that's
our aim every single game this season.
Speaker 2 (01:53):
And Louie, watching the Sky documentary about your amazing season
last year, it all looked pretty rushed as things came
together right before you first kicked off. How's the lead
up begun to this season in comparison.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
Yeah, of course it's been. It's been way better than
last year. Obviously I was only there for the last
month of the preseason last year, but the team has
stayed largely the same with a few few new players.
So there is a structure we can build on from
last year and we can find tune the things that
they could have We have could have done better last year,
(02:26):
so it was a different preseason. Also with the Cups
obviously if we reached the semi finals, so we had
some competitive games as well. So this prepared us a
little bit better for the new season and.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
The game last weekend. You managed to get away some
shots on target. I know, but I'm sure you would
have far preferred finding the back of the knit. But
the early indications of your own form this season, Louis,
you're happy.
Speaker 3 (02:49):
Yeah. I was satisfied with my performance last week. Like
I said, generally, for the team, for me personally, we
always want to improve on the details and a small thing,
so I want to I want to do even better tomorrow.
But in general I was satisfied with my game and
like you said, I came close to scoring last week.
Can hopefully I can do it.
Speaker 2 (03:07):
Yeah, And you mentioned the word tweaks. In terms of
the way the team's roster has changed this year, there's
obviously still a lot of consistency in terms of returning players.
What are the biggest difference is in the Awkland FC
team this season?
Speaker 3 (03:20):
That's a good question. I think our team identity is
stayed the same. I think the discover new players to
fit the profile of the team and the way we
play the high intensity we repressed and I think with
a new player that I don't think we have changed
a lot. In general, I think every player obviously brings
(03:42):
something different to the table, but I think you're going
to see a similar year than last year. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:49):
Now there's been a bit of chatter around Lewis, some
people calling it the second season syndrome, the triple s,
the suggestions that teams across the competition now have a
better idea of how you're playing and have a better
idea of how best to shut you down now that
you've been going for a season. Do you agree with
that kind of sentiment.
Speaker 3 (04:09):
I'm not sure. I think it's always it's it's a
competitive league, so I think it's always challenging. I think
the benefits from this year is that we we know
each other already way better than last year. Last year
was a team from scratch, so we have a step
ahead in that regards teams. Obviously they know it's a
little bit better, but I think of the of the
(04:30):
five six rounds they had, everybody does game analysis, so
they had a quite clear idea of how we played,
so I think they knew it all season and still
we we win the premiership. So I think this year,
even though they know our strength and our weaknesses, we
we will still be very very hard to beat.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Be yourself, Louis what kind of personal goals have you
set yourself this season.
Speaker 3 (04:53):
Last year I was in the I was in the
Team of the Year, and I want to do the
same this year. I want to I want to help
out the team every single game and be a be
be a consistent, a consistent performer in the in the squad,
and I want to end up again in the Team
of the season that that reflects on a successful season.
(05:15):
And obviously when when the titles are remaining, the two
more titles, the Premiership and and your Grand Final as well,
you want to I want to win it all. So yeah,
that's the end for this year.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
Yeah, I love it. And your first home game of
the season later on today, first chance to play in
front of the port supporters and all your other loyal
fans that packed out the stadium last year. How excited
a to be back at go Mediamount Smart. Yeah.
Speaker 3 (05:41):
We we trained there for the first time again this morning. Yeah,
it was. It was a good, good feeling that it
felt like being home again and I'm looking forward to
to playing in front of the crowd again. It's going
to be very nice.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
And your opponents, the Swan Western Sydney, they had a
draw last weekend they did get on the score sheets.
What are you expecting it from them? And how have
you prepared specifically for their challenge tonight.
Speaker 3 (06:06):
Gets It's a strong team. We reverse the twice last
year and they have they have some some quality players.
They also did some good trendswers, so I think their
team is better than last year. Okay, we we respect them,
but I think I think we will beat them, but
we have to respect them as an opponents and try
(06:26):
to to to yeah, to just play to our strength
and their weaknesses.
Speaker 2 (06:33):
I would say, all all the beast, slowly looking forward
to saying back at home the same thing. Thanks for
your time here on News Talks et Beat this morning.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
Yeah, thank you, no problem.
Speaker 1 (06:41):
For more from the old Sport Breakfast with Darcy Watergrave,
listen live to News Talks It'd be on Saturday mornings,
or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio
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