Melbourne City Head Coach Michael Matricciani and Captain Rebekah Stott spoke to the media ahead of City’s AFC Women’s Champions League Group Stage opener on Thursday.
City will open their 2025/26 account when they take on Singapore’s Lion City Sailors in Ho Chi Minh City.
Read Matricciani’s pre-match thoughts below…
EYES ON GROUP STAGE OPENER…
“Well first of all, it’s a pleasure to be here. I think the hospitality so far has been excellent. It’s my first time in Vietnam so excited to experience the culture here as well, and so far it’s been a nice couple of days and we’re definitely looking forward to the match.
“Preparation wise, we’ve played two league games and we’ve had about two months of pre-season, we’re we’ve played some friendly matches, and we’re prepared and ready for this Group Stage. We’ve done a lot of work on the opposition, we’ve watched a lot of their games, so we’ve analysed and we’re looking forward to the match.”
ASIA’S BIGGEST STAGE…
“I think this is excellent for women’s football in Asia, and we’re not only representing Melbourne City but Australian football also. I think we all represent our countries proud and this is a great campaign to keep proving that women’s football is growing and hopefully can continue to grow.
Click here to read our match preview.
“To be part of the second edition is very exciting. We did miss out agonisingly in the final last year in Wuhan, but like Rebekah said before, our goal is to go one step further and win but our focus right now in Lion City Sailors and putting on good performances, keep improving and hopefully we keep progressing and the dream and the goal is to hopefully lift that trophy in May next year.”
Read Stott’s pre-match thoughts below…
GROWING ON AND OFF THE PITCH…
“Our target for the competition is always to win, so we want to get through this Group Stage, and get the final trophy at the end of the tournament, but we’re focusing on the first match and we’ll take each game as it comes to get there.
“Obviously we’ve been in pre-season for about two months, and had two games in the league so it’s early in our season, but it’s a great opportunity for us to really bond off the field but also grow our connections on the field. It’s a competitive Group Stage and we want to do the best we can on the pitch but it also gives us an opportunity to grow off the pitch.”
Fixture Details
AFC Women’s Champions League: Group Stage – Matchday 1
Melbourne City FC v Lion City Sailors FC (Singapore)
Thursday 13 November, 7:00pm (AEDT)
Thong Nhat Stadium, Ho Chi Minh City
Watch live and free via YouTube
