Auckland FC are training at an English Premier League standard. Video / Ben Dickens
Auckland FC’s head of medical and performance Elias Boukarim believes many of his players are currently competing at an English Premier League standard.
The master behind the teams' madness of scoring late goals told the Herald many players could “slot in” at that elite level.
“From an aerobic conditioning point of view, from a pure strength point of view, you get a lot of our players that would slot into [the Premier League], no problem.
“One of the biggest things you get with players at that next level, at the most elite level of football is they’re probably just that tiny bit faster, and their decision-making is that little bit quicker.
Boukarim believes their fitness and physicality levels are the reason the Black Knights have maintained their spot at the top of the A-League table.
In their maiden season, they continue to outlast their opposition — scoring nine goals beyond the 83rd-minute mark, five of which have come in added time.
Only Sydney FC have scored more beyond that point.
Auckland FC Coach Steve Corica. Photo / Ben Dickens
“Obviously, late goals are always something special for everyone, and really hard [for the opposition] to come back from when you do score that late but it’s not, not so good for the ticker.”
Their late-game heroics have secured essential points, propelling them towards a playoff berth.
Hypothetically, if games stopped at 90 minutes, Auckland FC wouldn’t be in the top four — instead of the league leaders they are now.
Boukarim said part of that success is due to the “fantastic” relationship with English Premier League side, AFC Bournemouth.
He said he was in regular communication with Bournemouth’s Performance Manager, Jay Mellette, as the two clubs share the same owner, American billionaire, Bill Foley.
“We talk about our processes and our systems; We share benchmark data between what their players are doing, pre-season screening, where our guys are at, relative to theirs.
“It’s fantastic to have that relationship and comms, and anytime I need any level of support or vice versa, they’ve been unreal.
”That’s probably one of the most exciting things about coming [to Auckland] was being part of that kind of multi-club group
Bourkarim has spent more than a decade in the transtasman competition with Sydney FC and Western Sydney Wanderers.
“The biggest difference is my relationship with Steve is excellent, he’s very trusting, he’s an unbelievable coach to work with and he trusts a lot of the programming.
“If you were to sum up, what I’m accountable for, it’s ensuring that the players have the physical capacity to play the way the coach wants them to — to see out the 90 minutes and then more.”
“Making sure that they’re winning their battles and their duels, but at the same time trying to minimise injury risk.
“That’s the tricky part, it’s kind of working them hard but making sure we maximising player availability.”
Auckland FC vice-captain, Tommy Smith, who has played at clubs across the United Kingdom and United States said: “The preseason was the hardest I’ve ever had across my career, so I think that’s probably got a lot to do with it.”
Auckland FC Defender Tommy Smith. Photo / Ben Dickens
Corica also put their late showstopping goals down to mental strength.
“I think it’s a big belief in what we’re doing and knowing, we’ve done it before and it’s become a habit.”
On Saturday, the Aucklanders return home to play third-placed Macarthur, Corica said to ensure they keep their place at the top of the ladder, he wants the side to make it easier for themselves.
“[We] want to win the game earlier but we seem to leave it late all the time.
“Keeps everyone on their toes.
“Obviously, no one’s going home early, I don’t think in any of our games because they know what’s coming.”
Bonnie Jansen is a multimedia journalist in the NZME sports team. She’s a football commentator and co-host of the Football Feverpodcast, and was part of the Te Rito cadetship scheme before becoming a fulltime journalist.
