After qualifying for the Grand Final of the National League Championship against Wellington Olympic for the second year running, we spoke to Auckland City player Dylan Manickum about the clubs aspirations for the season and how they are preparing for the National League Championship Grand Final.

How does it feel to make it back to the National League Championship Grand Final for the second year running?

"it's always nice. Obviously, that's what you strive for. The whole season, it's just been working hard to get to the final Yeah, and it's obviously all of our hard work coming to fruition and to be there for a second time in a row is pretty nice."

Was there a moment before you officially qualified where you and the team started to believe a second cup final run might be on?

"I think the belief in this team is wonderful, to be honest. We have a group of players who backed up what they did last year to this year and I think obviously our last two games we dropped a few points, but the rest of the season has been great, we qualified for finals, won the league again, qualified for Club World Cup again so yeah overall its been great."

Theres a bit of history with Wellington Olympic, how excited are the team to play them once again?

"I believe we played them 6 times this year, wasn't great to lose the last time we played them but we can pick ourselves up and refocus and make sure that we're right and it's definitely given us a little bit extra motivation for the final."
 

Credit: Photosport

How do you transfer your vast experience onto the players around you?

"Yeah, I've said it before, I've always kind of had the attitude where if you work hard and that's the bare minimum you should do for the team, even if you're not playing super well and I try to show that, and you know if I can hopefully bring some players along with me, probably the younger boys, more so the younger ones and show them to work hard first and then if you have talent on top of that, that usually shows through eventually. But just the willingness to to fight and work for the team and with everyone and good things will come."

How happy have you been with your own individual performances this year?

"I've been pretty happy with my performances.Like you said, both in futsal and football obviously I was injured for a big part of the season. So it's been nice to get back and to contribute when you know have been away so yeah, I'm pretty pleased with how it's gone so far."

What do you think Auckland City bring to the table that might be enough to get you a positive result come Sunday?

"We've got quality players across the pitch. So do they be honest. But I think last year the final came down to hard work and who takes their chances at the right time. We had a red card for 80% of that game and we still managed to get a result."

"So I think as long as we take that attitude in hopefully we can get the job done, I'm sure Alby will be cooking up some tactics to make it a little bit easier for us  and I'm sure Olympic will have something planned too. I just think it'll be a good spectacle and a good battle and both teams have a lot to offer an attack so I wouldn't be surprised if it's high scoring game."
 

The men's National League Championship Grand Final kicks off at 1pm. 

Sunday Novermber 26, at Go Media Stadium Mt Smart. get your tickets here: https://premier.ticketek.co.nz/shows/show.aspx?sh=NZFNLC23

Stream the men's National League Grand Final Live and Free on FIFA+ at https://www.plus.fifa.com/en/content/auckland-city-v-wellington-olympic-national-league-championship-final-mens-live-stream/0fc05328-0dd3-4aa4-abb3-20a011006176

Article added: Friday 24 November 2023