Auckland FC's head coach Steve Corica. Photo: www.photosport.nz
In the nine weeks since Auckland FC's first A-League season came to an abrupt end, coach Steve Corica has watched his daughter get married, been on holiday to Fiji with his wife and tried to move on from a disallowed goal that left him fuming.
Auckland exited the A-League at the semi-final stage last season, going down to Melbourne Victory 2-1 on aggregate goals. What annoyed Corica most was the manner in which his team were ousted in front of their home fans.
In May, Corica was adamant Auckland had been wronged by the officials who disallowed a goal in the second semi-final. This week he said the players were over it but for him "that one it hurts very much still".
With time to reflect on a season that netted the Premiers Plate, Corica comes into Auckland's second A-League season with the view that season one was a "really great achievement", but he is motivated to go one better.
Captain Hiroki Sakai and coach Steve Corica celebrate with the A-League Premiers Plate in April. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Corica has a history of winning and the opportunity to add another piece of silverware to Auckland's trophy cabinet, even before the A-League kicks off on 17 October, is one he is focused on.
Auckland did not play in Football Australia's annual knockout competition, the Australia Cup, last season but will enter the competition in the round of 32 this year when they play the Gold Coast Knights, on Tuesday.
The Australia Cup pits A-League teams and club sides from different states against each other in a battle for the trophy.
The Wellington Phoenix kick off their campaign against fellow A-League side Perth Glory on Sunday, but the draw has been a bit kinder to Auckland.
"It's really exciting for them I think to play against an A-League team," Corica said of the Knights, who won the NPL Queensland last year. "Obviously we won the Premiership last year, so it'd be a great achievement for them if they could knock us off as well."
Auckland are professionals up against semi-professionals, but the Knights have the advantage of being match fit while the Auckland players are only a few weeks into pre-season.
"It's our first hit out and obviously they're probably halfway or three quarters of the way through the season, so they're definitely going to be fitter than us I'd say at the moment and that's always the case when we've just come into the start of the season, so we want to get the job done in 90 minutes.
"We don't really want to go into extra time right now with the fitness levels of the boys."
Corica does not see the Australia Cup as a time to experiment - he has his eyes on the prize - but he will not have a full A-League squad to select from.
Off-season departures have left Corica and director of football Terry McFlynn with "three or four" spots still to fill.
A striker, a winger and a centre back are the main targets. With only one more place for a foreign player available in the squad they are being tactical about which position that goes to - and it will not be the defender.
Until the new signings are made other players have a chance to impress.
"I think it gives other people opportunities to have a start and to make their claim for a starting squad during the season so they've got it right now and it's in their hands to do well for the club and for themselves as well."
Auckland will stay in Queensland after their first Australia Cup game to play Brisbane Roar in a pre-season friendly.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
