Tribulietx hints at changes

Words: ACFC Media

Friday 17 November 2017

AUCKLAND, New Zealand – Navy Blues coach Ramon Tribulietx says the team’s looming departure for the FIFA Club World Cup may force him to juggle selections ahead of the visit from Wellington Phoenix Reserves in the ISPS Handa Premiership.

Auckland City depart for the UAE not long after next Saturday’s game against Hawke’s Bay United and while the staff are still following the one-game-at-a-time axiom and putting immediate focus on their national league ambitions, there’s a prudency in making sure he has the best possible squad available for the trip to the Middle East.

“Towards the end of the week we’ll take a look at who’s available and how we need to take this game, taking into account that it’s only nine days until we go away,” Tribulietx said.

“That’s obviously in the back of our minds and we need to ensure we have everyone safe so if any players have any little niggles we’ll need to take that into consideration.”

There has been positive news on the injury front with Kris Bright returning to training in recent weeks and Mario Bilen, who suffered a medial ligament injury last month, has made remarkable progress with Navy Blues medical staff and is now an outside chance to make the Club World Cup squad.

After a slow start to the season, the Navy Blues have now won three games on the bounce by a combined margin of 14-1 and Tribulietx is happy the tweaks made to Auckland’s style this season are beginning to be implemented on the pitch more seamlessly.

“We’re looking better every week with the way we play. For us the positioning is very important when you are based around the ball and when you’re at Kiwitea you need to make sure your positions are well achieved or you will get into trouble or at the very least that position will not be effective.

“We have understood that, and we’re creating many more chances week in and week out and preventing the opposition creating many chances to hurt us so that’s a clear sign on how we’re maturing with the new positioning this year – we change it every year – so again we’re happy but we have to keep going.”

While not qualifying for full ‘bogey team’ status, Wellington Phoenix Reserves have had a relatively successful run again the Navy Blues winning two of the six official meetings between the two sides including a shock 3-1 win at Kiwitea Street in the first national league encounter.

Tribulietx says the Wee Nix are a side the Navy Blues need to prepare well for or risk coming unstuck again.

“They are very young but very talented and when they come up against us they are going to be very motivated. They’ve got players like James McGarry and Sarpreet Singh, and they’ll probably have a very good keeper, Olly Sail, in goal.

“But they play with no fear which makes them dangerous – they don’t really care as long as they create and they attack which is understandable when you talk about a young team. It’s a dangerous game and we need to understand how we need to play.”

The match kicks off on Sunday at 2pm.

Ends

Match Details
ISPS Handa Premiership Round 5
Sunday 19 November 2017
Auckland City FC v Wellington Phoenix Reserves
Kiwitea Street, Sandringham
Kick-off: 2pm NZST
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