Berlanga eager to take on the world

   

A loyal fan of Real Madrid, Auckland City FC's Spanish defender Angel Berlanga can't wait to take on all-comers at the FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2014.

The 27-year-old Berlanga and his brother are both season ticket holders - now the amiable stopper finds himself lined up in a competition alongside his childhood heroes. "I still have the season ticket today and have held one for five years. "Whenever I go home, my brother and I always go to watch - it gives us something to joke about at Auckland City," he told FIFA.com.

Berlanga's coach Ramon Tribulietx, and former Navy Blues team-mate Manel Exposito, are both fervent Barcelona fans. And the teasing used to be merciless. But now Berlanga says it's his turn to enjoy the upperhand.

"Every time Auckland qualify for the FIFA Club World Cup, Barcelona were there twice, so Manel Exposito would laugh at me. Now it's Real Madrid's turn, finally. But I enjoy the rivalry we have at Auckland but it's changed at least, thankfully," he said.

Berlanga lists Zinedine Zidane as his favourite Real Madrid player of all time. "Just to watch one touch of the ball was worth the ticket price. Everything Zidane did was class," he said.

Putting 2013 memories right

Any thought of Auckland facing Real Madrid at the tournament is very firmly at the back of his mind. Still fresh are memories of last year's heartbreaking 2-1 last minute defeat to eventual finalists Raja Casablanca. Auckland equalised midway through the second half before the roof fell in two minutes into stoppage time to end their dreams of an upset.

"When we equalised the stadium was silent. We had our minds set on getting to extra time and taking our chances there. We wanted to create more pressure and test their nerves and perhaps see them make another mistake," he said. "To play at a FIFA Club World Cup is a dream and it makes you lift your game to another level. We're very excited."

This year Moghreb Tétouan stand between Auckland City FC and a quarter-final slot. "I don't know much about Moghreb Tétouan - they won the Moroccan league, of course, which is not easy. They'll be very competitive, we saw that with Raja Casablanca," he said.