1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from News Talks ed B. 3 00:00:13,267 --> 00:00:15,227 Speaker 2: The Second League of the semi final this evening at 4 00:00:15,267 --> 00:00:19,627 Speaker 2: go Media Stadium. Auckland FC striker and recently named player 5 00:00:19,667 --> 00:00:22,707 Speaker 2: of the Year Gizumo my set to join US nine 6 00:00:22,787 --> 00:00:26,747 Speaker 2: goals this season. The season rather including a couple of 7 00:00:26,947 --> 00:00:31,067 Speaker 2: absolute belters looking up play again. This is promising for 8 00:00:31,147 --> 00:00:32,707 Speaker 2: all the fco. 9 00:00:38,627 --> 00:00:41,267 Speaker 3: Jing got the EU ban. 10 00:00:43,427 --> 00:00:45,867 Speaker 2: Frost, He's put a couple in the top corner at 11 00:00:45,867 --> 00:00:48,667 Speaker 2: go Media Stadium this season. He joins US now, Gizmo, 12 00:00:48,747 --> 00:00:51,827 Speaker 2: thanks for taking the time. How happy were you and 13 00:00:51,907 --> 00:00:53,947 Speaker 2: the coaching staff and the rest of the team with 14 00:00:54,067 --> 00:00:57,467 Speaker 2: the performance and the results in the first leg against 15 00:00:57,507 --> 00:00:58,827 Speaker 2: Melbourne victory last weekend? 16 00:01:00,027 --> 00:01:05,827 Speaker 4: Hi, Jason, thank you well, it was an amazing performance 17 00:01:05,867 --> 00:01:07,107 Speaker 4: form from all the team. 18 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:09,547 Speaker 3: We were We were really happy the other day. 19 00:01:10,787 --> 00:01:15,427 Speaker 4: We we trained the week before and we prepare the 20 00:01:15,467 --> 00:01:20,467 Speaker 4: game like it was the final, you know, and we 21 00:01:20,587 --> 00:01:22,947 Speaker 4: tried to win duals. It was going to be a 22 00:01:22,947 --> 00:01:26,267 Speaker 4: tough game in in those in those situations they will 23 00:01:26,427 --> 00:01:29,107 Speaker 4: press a little bit more than than before. 24 00:01:29,227 --> 00:01:32,187 Speaker 3: So yeah, I think we've been superior. We have also 25 00:01:33,747 --> 00:01:39,547 Speaker 3: some clever situations once Naida Jesse. 26 00:01:39,787 --> 00:01:43,947 Speaker 4: We have some there and I think we we have 27 00:01:44,027 --> 00:01:47,027 Speaker 4: one of our best defensive performance in the season. 28 00:01:47,107 --> 00:01:50,587 Speaker 3: So yeah, we were really really happy. But just the 29 00:01:51,267 --> 00:01:52,547 Speaker 3: first leg, you say. 30 00:01:53,547 --> 00:01:56,747 Speaker 2: Did you think that Nada Moreno had made it to nil? 31 00:01:57,067 --> 00:01:59,987 Speaker 2: At the end you put them through on goal. Beautiful pass, 32 00:02:00,267 --> 00:02:03,347 Speaker 2: he's off one on one, he hit both posts and 33 00:02:03,387 --> 00:02:05,747 Speaker 2: then the okay quite grabs that have you ever seen 34 00:02:05,787 --> 00:02:06,227 Speaker 2: anything like? 35 00:02:07,187 --> 00:02:07,307 Speaker 4: No? 36 00:02:07,587 --> 00:02:08,707 Speaker 3: Incredible, incredible. 37 00:02:08,747 --> 00:02:12,747 Speaker 4: I was watching from from the back there and also 38 00:02:12,827 --> 00:02:16,907 Speaker 4: Liam Gilly was to top the ball if it goes 39 00:02:17,147 --> 00:02:21,187 Speaker 4: through him, but incredible, it goes they. 40 00:02:20,587 --> 00:02:22,467 Speaker 3: Two posts and after that to the keeper. 41 00:02:23,027 --> 00:02:27,267 Speaker 4: Believable, as you know, would be something have you to 42 00:02:27,267 --> 00:02:27,987 Speaker 4: to turn around? 43 00:02:27,987 --> 00:02:31,427 Speaker 2: You know absolutely. You talked about how good a defensive 44 00:02:31,467 --> 00:02:34,547 Speaker 2: performance it was, and it was how big a part 45 00:02:35,067 --> 00:02:38,147 Speaker 2: to the attacking players and often the f say play 46 00:02:38,507 --> 00:02:40,667 Speaker 2: in the defense of strategy. 47 00:02:41,867 --> 00:02:46,787 Speaker 4: Well, I I always say it is when when they 48 00:02:46,787 --> 00:02:54,067 Speaker 4: asked me today, in football, you you need eleven players 49 00:02:55,227 --> 00:02:59,347 Speaker 4: who can run, compress can be there for for his 50 00:02:59,427 --> 00:03:00,907 Speaker 4: teammates because if no. 51 00:03:00,987 --> 00:03:02,747 Speaker 3: If not, you're not going to be competitive. 52 00:03:04,107 --> 00:03:07,187 Speaker 4: I used to to watch the A game and they 53 00:03:07,187 --> 00:03:10,587 Speaker 4: are some team that have really offensive players really good 54 00:03:10,707 --> 00:03:15,147 Speaker 4: offensive players, but sometimes they cheat a little bit in 55 00:03:15,147 --> 00:03:20,467 Speaker 4: in the defensive structor they don't do those extra runs. 56 00:03:20,987 --> 00:03:24,427 Speaker 4: And here I think, of course we're going to be 57 00:03:24,747 --> 00:03:28,667 Speaker 4: sometimes tired to take better decisions in when we have 58 00:03:28,747 --> 00:03:29,067 Speaker 4: the ball. 59 00:03:29,427 --> 00:03:30,427 Speaker 3: That's that's true. 60 00:03:30,747 --> 00:03:35,547 Speaker 4: And sometimes we we don't have those clear situations, so 61 00:03:35,827 --> 00:03:38,307 Speaker 4: we don't keep too much of the balls as we 62 00:03:38,307 --> 00:03:42,667 Speaker 4: will want we would want. But that's because every everyone 63 00:03:43,547 --> 00:03:45,467 Speaker 4: up front and in our back line. 64 00:03:46,427 --> 00:03:50,787 Speaker 3: I think it's something that you can watch clearly. You 65 00:03:50,827 --> 00:03:51,307 Speaker 3: know what team. 66 00:03:51,787 --> 00:03:55,147 Speaker 2: You know that if you if you don't concede, then 67 00:03:55,187 --> 00:03:58,347 Speaker 2: you qualify for the Grand Final. Is there any temptation 68 00:03:59,347 --> 00:04:02,467 Speaker 2: to be a bit more defensive or is that not 69 00:04:02,547 --> 00:04:03,867 Speaker 2: the way often the FC play? 70 00:04:04,987 --> 00:04:07,947 Speaker 4: No, no, no, no. We are playing at home. We 71 00:04:08,027 --> 00:04:11,707 Speaker 4: want to win these eighty minutes. We are going to 72 00:04:11,747 --> 00:04:14,947 Speaker 4: start from the beginning and try to win the game. 73 00:04:15,507 --> 00:04:17,907 Speaker 4: So it's nothing different from from the first leg or 74 00:04:18,707 --> 00:04:20,267 Speaker 4: or the other games that we play in the season. 75 00:04:20,387 --> 00:04:24,227 Speaker 4: We as as you can see before, we tried to 76 00:04:24,227 --> 00:04:27,627 Speaker 4: win every every single game. Sometimes it was better, sometimes not, 77 00:04:27,747 --> 00:04:33,427 Speaker 4: but we never wait for the other team to to 78 00:04:33,467 --> 00:04:38,387 Speaker 4: play through us. So so yeah, our post on Saturday 79 00:04:38,507 --> 00:04:42,867 Speaker 4: was it's going to be pressed high, tried to create 80 00:04:42,907 --> 00:04:45,947 Speaker 4: situations and smash the other team. 81 00:04:46,307 --> 00:04:50,667 Speaker 2: One of the big tactical changes that happened in January, 82 00:04:50,667 --> 00:04:53,707 Speaker 2: midway through the season was I mean, you've you've played, 83 00:04:53,787 --> 00:04:57,547 Speaker 2: You've started every game, but in mid January Steve made 84 00:04:57,587 --> 00:05:00,907 Speaker 2: a change and brought Max Mutter into the starting lineup 85 00:05:00,987 --> 00:05:04,747 Speaker 2: to play alongside you up front. How much did that 86 00:05:04,867 --> 00:05:08,347 Speaker 2: change the way the you were able to play? 87 00:05:11,267 --> 00:05:16,227 Speaker 4: Well, that's something of Steve. 88 00:05:16,587 --> 00:05:19,427 Speaker 3: He's a really he's a really smart coach. 89 00:05:19,707 --> 00:05:23,947 Speaker 4: He always he's always trying to find our best best 90 00:05:23,987 --> 00:05:25,667 Speaker 4: form in every way. 91 00:05:25,787 --> 00:05:29,787 Speaker 3: So good that. 92 00:05:31,387 --> 00:05:37,227 Speaker 4: We were winning games and and that, but my position, 93 00:05:39,827 --> 00:05:41,787 Speaker 4: I could do it better with someone next to me, 94 00:05:42,467 --> 00:05:46,067 Speaker 4: with with more presence in the box, and if you 95 00:05:46,107 --> 00:05:49,347 Speaker 4: give me the opportunity to drop off the line sometimes. 96 00:05:48,867 --> 00:05:52,427 Speaker 3: To get more involved in the in the game, and yeah, 97 00:05:52,507 --> 00:05:54,507 Speaker 3: to to to take more. 98 00:05:54,507 --> 00:05:59,667 Speaker 4: My my characteristics of player, you know. After I think 99 00:05:59,667 --> 00:06:04,547 Speaker 4: after that move with with John, we show our our 100 00:06:04,587 --> 00:06:07,507 Speaker 4: best performances in in the season, I think. 101 00:06:07,987 --> 00:06:10,827 Speaker 3: And also we have an extra player. 102 00:06:10,947 --> 00:06:13,987 Speaker 4: In the in the rival box. 103 00:06:13,987 --> 00:06:17,867 Speaker 3: So I think it was a really smart moment there. 104 00:06:18,627 --> 00:06:21,227 Speaker 2: And you talked about there about dropping off the line. 105 00:06:21,587 --> 00:06:24,627 Speaker 2: I mean, you're certainly not a traditional number nine, a 106 00:06:24,747 --> 00:06:27,587 Speaker 2: center forward who just plays up front. And you know, 107 00:06:27,867 --> 00:06:30,827 Speaker 2: I've seen you tracking back. I've seen your back and 108 00:06:31,027 --> 00:06:33,587 Speaker 2: the left midfield position. You drop off the line to 109 00:06:33,587 --> 00:06:36,627 Speaker 2: pick up the ball. Your GPS numbers must be very impressive. 110 00:06:37,627 --> 00:06:39,707 Speaker 2: Is that that that's you though, wasn't it? You're not 111 00:06:40,107 --> 00:06:43,387 Speaker 2: a typical center forward. You're more You're more a team. 112 00:06:43,507 --> 00:06:44,187 Speaker 2: Will that be fair? 113 00:06:45,387 --> 00:06:49,107 Speaker 3: Yes, it's it's it's fair. I prefer to play to 114 00:06:49,187 --> 00:06:53,027 Speaker 3: be in touch with the ball always, to play with midfield. 115 00:06:53,067 --> 00:06:56,827 Speaker 4: Say also, of course in this team, we we have 116 00:06:56,867 --> 00:07:01,507 Speaker 4: to run to to do some recoveries and to take. 117 00:07:01,347 --> 00:07:02,147 Speaker 3: The other thing the ball. 118 00:07:02,187 --> 00:07:06,187 Speaker 4: And yeah, I think now not not only mine, if 119 00:07:06,227 --> 00:07:10,427 Speaker 4: not all of my teammates GPS is they're they're rising 120 00:07:10,587 --> 00:07:11,227 Speaker 4: a high level. 121 00:07:11,307 --> 00:07:14,587 Speaker 3: Yeare in tactical terms. 122 00:07:14,827 --> 00:07:18,707 Speaker 4: In tactical terms, yeah, I don't like playing as a 123 00:07:18,707 --> 00:07:19,667 Speaker 4: traditional striker. 124 00:07:20,267 --> 00:07:22,947 Speaker 3: I like being being in. 125 00:07:22,867 --> 00:07:27,387 Speaker 4: Touch with the ball, having wingers run forward so I 126 00:07:27,427 --> 00:07:30,707 Speaker 4: can pass them the ball to shoot from from distance. 127 00:07:31,387 --> 00:07:34,267 Speaker 3: That's that's what I what I like. So yeah, I 128 00:07:34,307 --> 00:07:38,107 Speaker 3: think playing with someone there it's quite better. 129 00:07:38,267 --> 00:07:42,187 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's certainly working. Nine goals for you this season. 130 00:07:42,387 --> 00:07:46,947 Speaker 3: Do you have a favorite, good question. I would like 131 00:07:46,987 --> 00:07:47,587 Speaker 3: to score more. 132 00:07:48,227 --> 00:07:51,827 Speaker 4: I hope this weekend and the other to to to 133 00:07:51,907 --> 00:07:56,707 Speaker 4: have more goals in my account. But I think my favorite, Yeah, 134 00:07:56,707 --> 00:08:00,587 Speaker 4: it is maybe the Melbourne City goal home goal. 135 00:08:01,067 --> 00:08:04,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, because I like I like that the show. It 136 00:08:05,187 --> 00:08:07,867 Speaker 3: was also my first call at. 137 00:08:08,067 --> 00:08:11,907 Speaker 4: At the gold Media Stadium with all the people there 138 00:08:12,067 --> 00:08:12,307 Speaker 4: for me. 139 00:08:12,347 --> 00:08:15,667 Speaker 3: It was an unbelievable feeling. So yeah, I think that 140 00:08:15,787 --> 00:08:16,587 Speaker 3: was really nice. 141 00:08:16,787 --> 00:08:18,907 Speaker 2: Yep, that's the one I would have chosen as well. 142 00:08:19,667 --> 00:08:21,747 Speaker 2: And you and you broke one of the Sky Sports 143 00:08:21,827 --> 00:08:22,627 Speaker 2: cameras as well. 144 00:08:26,027 --> 00:08:29,427 Speaker 3: It's a good camera, it's a good view that. 145 00:08:31,067 --> 00:08:33,227 Speaker 2: It's a great view from behind it is it is 146 00:08:33,267 --> 00:08:37,787 Speaker 2: the best view. Just before we finish, can you think 147 00:08:37,827 --> 00:08:41,627 Speaker 2: back to what your expectations were at the start of 148 00:08:41,667 --> 00:08:44,707 Speaker 2: the season when you arrived in Auckland. Did you really 149 00:08:44,787 --> 00:08:47,947 Speaker 2: expect that you'd be one game away from a Grand 150 00:08:47,987 --> 00:08:54,467 Speaker 2: Final here in the in the middle of May. 151 00:08:54,667 --> 00:08:58,067 Speaker 3: You know when when when you arrived to a new club. 152 00:08:58,427 --> 00:09:03,227 Speaker 4: Of course, your your expectations are high. You you want 153 00:09:03,267 --> 00:09:06,827 Speaker 4: to be your best in the season, You're want to 154 00:09:06,907 --> 00:09:10,947 Speaker 4: be your team the best in the season. But you 155 00:09:11,107 --> 00:09:15,787 Speaker 4: never realized I saw think about playing the grand final 156 00:09:15,987 --> 00:09:20,107 Speaker 4: or be one game through the grand final win the premiership. 157 00:09:20,627 --> 00:09:24,347 Speaker 4: I think it was a dream before we were Since 158 00:09:24,387 --> 00:09:28,187 Speaker 4: the beginning, I thought we were a competitive team, but 159 00:09:28,387 --> 00:09:32,267 Speaker 4: also we were not having the best results in the 160 00:09:32,307 --> 00:09:37,227 Speaker 4: pre season, so I was thinking, like, we're going to 161 00:09:37,227 --> 00:09:39,547 Speaker 4: be competitive, but it's a tough leak. 162 00:09:39,867 --> 00:09:43,467 Speaker 3: It's not going to be easy to be in the 163 00:09:42,427 --> 00:09:46,827 Speaker 3: in the top of the level, you know that. 164 00:09:46,907 --> 00:09:50,427 Speaker 4: After a few games, I started realizing that we had 165 00:09:50,467 --> 00:09:56,307 Speaker 4: a really good coaching stuff that knows everything about this league, 166 00:09:56,707 --> 00:10:01,347 Speaker 4: and they are really smart, they know the tricks. Also, 167 00:10:01,467 --> 00:10:05,347 Speaker 4: I realized the atmosphere here was something special. 168 00:10:05,867 --> 00:10:10,067 Speaker 3: We have a everyone working hard, everyone worked for for 169 00:10:10,227 --> 00:10:17,987 Speaker 3: the for the teammates, the like we we enjoy being 170 00:10:18,027 --> 00:10:20,307 Speaker 3: here in the club in or however. 171 00:10:20,547 --> 00:10:24,787 Speaker 4: So those type of things and getting some results like 172 00:10:24,907 --> 00:10:30,227 Speaker 4: in the last minutes and watching us play. 173 00:10:30,507 --> 00:10:32,947 Speaker 3: It was then and I started realizing that. 174 00:10:32,827 --> 00:10:35,267 Speaker 4: We were we were going to be. 175 00:10:34,587 --> 00:10:37,027 Speaker 3: One of the best team analytics, I think, well. 176 00:10:36,907 --> 00:10:40,547 Speaker 2: It's been a fantastic season so far. Gis you congratulations 177 00:10:40,547 --> 00:10:43,387 Speaker 2: on what you've done yourself and as a team so far. 178 00:10:43,507 --> 00:10:45,787 Speaker 2: Hopefully more to come. All the best in the second League. 179 00:10:45,947 --> 00:10:47,507 Speaker 2: As you look to make the Grand Final. Thank you 180 00:10:47,547 --> 00:10:48,987 Speaker 2: so much for chatting now. 181 00:10:49,027 --> 00:10:53,147 Speaker 4: I think, thank you Jason and Ante chatting, and I. 182 00:10:53,027 --> 00:10:55,867 Speaker 3: Hope this weekend we will maybe it better for open. 183 00:10:57,747 --> 00:11:00,227 Speaker 2: So great to Tett, you give you, Gus, your mom, 184 00:11:00,387 --> 00:11:03,387 Speaker 2: the nine goals this season, hopefully more to come and 185 00:11:03,507 --> 00:11:06,267 Speaker 2: often the season overall player of the season. 186 00:11:07,107 --> 00:11:10,307 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 187 00:11:10,387 --> 00:11:13,707 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 188 00:11:13,747 --> 00:11:15,347 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio