Auckland City coach praises players' efforts despite heavy loss to Bayern Munich

The head coach of New Zealand's Auckland City, a 13-time champion of the Oceania Champions League, has come under the spotlight for praising his players despite a heavy defeat.

Auckland City suffered a crushing 0-10 defeat against Bayern Munich (Germany) in the first match of Group C at the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, held on the 16th (Korea time) at TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Jamal Musiala, who came on as a substitute for Harry Kane in the 61st minute, scored a hat trick, and Kingsley Coman, Jamal Musiala, and Thomas Müller each scored multiple goals. Sasha Boy also scored.

It was a huge relief that the score didn't end up being bigger. Bayern Munich maintained a dominant performance throughout the match, and Auckland City's only shot came from Angus Killcollie.

According to Spain's Marca, Auckland City assistant coach Ivan Viselic noted after the match, "I am very proud of the effort and determination the players showed today."

He added, "I knew we were up against one of the world’s best teams and a title contender, and I am even prouder that we were able to actually show some of the scenes we had been focusing on in the match. We will prepare for the next game in a few days."

Auckland City is one of the powerhouses in Oceania. However, it was clear that there was a significant gap in caliber between them and Bayern Munich, which is among the top professionals, as most players hold semi-professional or amateur status.

In fact, most Auckland City players have other jobs. Captain Mario Iličić works as a beverage sales representative, among others, with players also having careers as delivery workers, teachers, real estate agents, or are university students. Some players had to take leave from their jobs to participate in the tournament.

Assistant coach Viselic emphasized, "For players from amateur backgrounds, such a tournament is literally a dream stage," adding, "There is a clear difference in performance, but many players put in tremendous effort, and that dedication is truly praiseworthy."

Marca assessed, "This crushing defeat brought us face to face with reality, but at the same time, it was a moment that reaffirmed what the passion and dedication for football truly are."

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