Auckland City Midfielder: We are amateur players, and we will be afraid of opponents like Bayern
Spanish midfielder Gerald Garria in Auckland City recently accepted an interview with the Ass and talked about topics such as the Club World Cup and opponent Bayern.
How do you think about participating in the Club World Cup?
"We are very excited about participating in the Club World Cup, but we are also cautious about the opponents we are about to face. We are the club with the most participation, rich experience, but have never played against teams of Bayern, Benfica or Boca. I don't know what will happen. We are amateur players. As the club said, we represent 99% of football and players. Most of the people playing football in the world are out of love, and we will fight for these people. It also represents New Zealand and Oceania, but we know that the gap between Bayern and Auckland City is like a natural barrier. If the game is not going well and the opponent is leading by a big score, no one will enjoy it. Our goal is to compete hard, and we have been doing this in previous Club World Cups, and even in 2014 the club beat the Blue Cross to win the third place."
Are you worried about a crushing defeat?
"We are in awe, and maybe there is a little worry. After all, you see Bayern can score seven or eight goals in the Champions League or Bundesliga. You will think: 'If they are in good shape and we don't perform well, the situation may be embarrassing.' But we also hold hope, if their feet are not smooth that day, or we have excellent defense, or even red cards... anything is possible in football. We just want to do our best and stick to the last moment. As long as we remain competitive, we will be satisfied. We know that the gap is huge, and being here is a gift, but we still want to prove our potential."
For you and your teammates, is this a rare opportunity in your life?
"That's right. We are not sure if we can have such an experience in the future, and we may not even have a chance to play against Bayern, Benfica or Boca. This may be a dream that we once dared not imagine in the past. We must regard it as a recognition of past efforts and enjoy this unique experience. Of course, it cannot be used as a vacation, because it is an opportunity to test our limits."
Talking about our first opponent, Bayern?
"I am full of expectations for the official match against Bayern, but I have participated in three Club World Cups. I must say that when you stand on the court, you will feel the gap completely, and sometimes even torment. I thought to myself: 'Oh my God, it's already very difficult to play against Asian or African champions, let alone Bayern?' Let's see how we perform and whether we can achieve the small goals set before the game. If we can compete, we will enjoy it. Kimich, Goretzka, Kane, Olise, Gnabry... whoever they send to the court is all top stars."
How to allocate the bonus of players?
"The players and coaching staff share 50% of the club's bonus, but US$3.5 million requires tax deductions, New Zealand Football Association share, etc., and there is only a few left. We thought we could get more, but there were indeed some, but it was lower than expected. Each game won is 2 million, so if we beat Bayern, Benfica and Boca, we can get 6 million (laughs)."
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