'Anxious': Auckland FC coach admits nerves before first derby with Phoenix

Auckland FC coach Pedro Moreira has experienced some of European football’s fiercest rivalries but admits he is feeling anxious as he prepares to get his first taste of the New Zealand derby when his side hosts Wellington Phoenix on Saturday night.

Moreira has worked in Italy and Portugal, including with the likes of Roma and FC Porto, but this weekend’s clash will present a new kind of pressure.

That’s because the Black Knights have not lost any of their six meetings with the Phoenix, outscoring their opponents 20 goals to four.

Their last meeting – a 5-0 win for Auckland in Wellington – led to Phoenix coach Giancarlo Italiano stepping down with immediate effect.

Since arriving in Auckland, Moreira said the significance of the derby has been made clear to him, with the club’s supporters expected to turn out in force for the latest chapter of the rivalry.

“I feel the pressure in all the games,” Moreira said. “We must to play to win and we must to know the history of the club and what we pretend to do on the game.

“All the games are important, but this one, from the perspective of the supporters, from the perspective of the club, probably could be even more important.”

“I’m very anxious to play the derby since the first day that I arrived, everyone speak with me about the derby.”

The defending A-League champions are in danger of being without key midfielder Jake Brimmer for the game, after he appeared to suffer a shoulder injury during training and did not speak to media as planned.

Moreira declined to provide an update on the severity of the injury but remained hopeful the 28-year-old would be available, saying he would wait until the last possible moment before making a decision.

Auckland will have striker Sam Cosgrove back on deck after serving his one-match ban, but Cam Howieson and Aaron Calver won’t be available as they continue to recover from injuries.

Meanwhile, Moreira said he had been impressed with what he has seen from the Phoenix at the start of their season, with Wellington the only team to have recorded three wins.

It is the first time the Phoenix have started a season with three straight victories.

They are playing an impressive style of football and Corban Piper has been a revelation at striker, earning him a first call-up to the All Whites squad for the upcoming fixtures against India.

Corban Piper (left) and the Wellington Phoenix head to Go Media Stadium to play Lachlan Brook's Auckland FC on Saturday November 7. Photo / Photosport

Their fortunes have been far different to those of Auckland, who started the season with a win over Melbourne City before a thumping loss to the Western Sydney Wanderers was followed by a last-minute draw with Brisbane Roar.

“Quality team with a nice work from Chris [Greenacre], the way that they are playing, the results are there,” Moreira said. “Probably in the moment with the table, it’s the team with more form, with more performance on the championship.”

Despite Auckland’s dominance over the Phoenix in recent years, Moreira is refusing to get carried away that it will be another walk in the park.

“It’s a different team, it’s not the same team from the past, but the ambition are there for the club, for the players, for everything around and the core of players are here and I still believe on that,” Moreira said.

“Let’s try to keep the role because really I saw the atmosphere around, I saw a lot of things to understand it’s a huge game for our team and I’m really a believer on our team, on our players, on our environment and especially in our supporters to get well a nice derby game and three points that are very important for our team in this moment.”

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.