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'We want to test ourselves against the best' - Berlanga

Words: ACFC Media

Monday 4 February 2019

HONG KONG, China - Auckland City FC have arrived in Hong Kong for the highly anticipated Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup.

Chinese Super League giants Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, J.League outfit Sagan Tosu and a Hong Kong League XI lie in wait for the Navy Blues that will see the four teams play two matches in the space of three days.

Included in the Shandong Luneng Taishan FC squad will be Italy international Grazione Pelle and new signing, former Manchester United midfielder, Marouane Fellaini, who joined the club in the latest transfer window.

Shandong Luneng Taishan FC and Sagan Tosu both lashed out tens of millions of New Zealand dollars on bolstering their squads to satisfy their fantatical fan bases while Auckland City FC's modest group set off for Hong Kong after beating Canterbury United 1-0 on Saturday in front of a crowd of just a few hundred.

The contrast could not be more stark - any thought of Auckland City FC repeating their shock victory in this competition from two years ago are put in firm perspective knowing a World Cup winner in Fernando Torres lies in wait on the other side of the draw.

Auckland City FC captain Angel Berlanga has mixed emotions of the Lunar New Year Cup after he suffered a broken nose in the 1-0 win over FC Seoul.

"It was a mixed experience for me because of the broken nose but the most important thing was the team won the tournament and we made a lot of people very proud.

"We represented our club and New Zealand to the best of our ability and delivered a winning performance against top quality professional opposition.

"Shandong Luneng finished third in the Chinese Super League and they've spent a lot of money on top players like Pelle and Fellaini. To finish third in the Chinese Super League says a lot about how good they are.

"Pelle and Fellaini are two big names in world football but we have to treat them like they are human beings. As footballers you want to play against the best and prove yourself capable of making the step up," Berlanga told www.aucklandcityfc.com.

Auckland City FC have a packed schedule ahead of them with Shandong Luneng Taishan FC on Tuesday next week at 9pm NZST then either a third place match or final just two days later. They must also play four matches in the ISPS Handa Premiership before taking off to the Solomon Islands for the OFC Champions League in Honiara for another three games.

While the airpoints are mounting up for Berlanga and his team-mates, so too the physical toll which is why coach Ramon Tribulietx has opted to freshen his squad with the inclusion of youngsters Joshua Jones and Jackson Wood from the club's National Youth League title winning side.

Berlanga says the inclusion of fresh faces alongside new signings like Omar Guardiola and Patrick Lundemo are crucial in pushing Auckland City FC on in a pivotal stage of their season.

"It's important to have the youth players like Joshua and Jackson pushing players like myself all the way - they bring a lot of energy to the mix and we can provide them with our experience so they can learn from us and take it forward in their own game.

"We've got a lot of games coming up and the balance we have is crucial to us.

"Every player has to be ready to play. Every player has to look at our schedule and understand they can be called on at any moment to contribute to our season.
"Everyone knows it's impossible to play 10 games in a month against teams like Shandong Luneng or Sagan Tosu with the exact same line-up. We have to be buzzing and ready to show Ramon they belong in the starting eleven."

Auckland City FC arrived in Hong Kong at 9.30pm NZST before heading to their first training session.

Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup organisers welcomed Auckland City FC to the competition alongside delegations from Shandong Luneng Taishan FC, Sagan Tosu and the Hong Kong League XI with presentations made to each club at an official function.

Auckland City FC arrived in Hong Kong at 9.30pm NZST before heading to their first training session.

The New Zealand champions face Shandong Luneng Taishan on Tuesday 5 February 2019 with a 9pm NZST kick-off scheduled.

Ends

Match Details
Tonghai Financial Chinese New Year Cup
Tuesday 5 February 2019
Auckland City FC v Shandong Luneng Taishan FC
Hong Kong International Stadium
Kick-off: 9pm NZST
#ACvSL

AC (squad): 1. Enaut ZUBIKARAI (GK), 3. Takuya IWATA, 4. Mario BILEN, 5. Angel BERLANGA (c), 6. Brian KALTACK, 7. Cam HOWIESON, 8. Albert RIERA, 9. Javier LOPEZ, 10. Micah LEA'ALAFA, 11. Fabrizio TAVANO, 12. Dylan MANICKUM, 13. Patrick LUNDEMO, 14. Jordan VALE, 15. Dan MORGAN, 16. Yousif ALI, 17. Jackson WOOD, 18. Ruben PARKER (GK), 19. David BROWNE, 20. Te Atawhai HUDSON-WIHONGI, 21. Maro BONSU-MARO, 22. Omar GUARDIOLA, 23. Alfie ROGERS, 24. Cameron BROWN (GK), 25. Joshua JONES.

COACH: Ramon TRIBULIETX.