The opening Club World Cup opponents of Bayern Munich are confronted with a big crisis after several of their players had not been given a free time to play in the tournament.
The Bundesliga champions of 2024/25 will be confronted on Sunday evening with amateur New -Zeelandse Side Auckland City in Cincinnati.
Auckland is signed in a group of death together with Bayern, Benfica and Boca Juniors.
And their slender chances of making the last 16 are startled by several of their players who cannot travel to America because of their work requirements at home.
Interim head coach Paul Posa said: “All players have other jobs in addition to their football obligations.
“However, they have an extraordinary dedication to their football outside their working hours.
“Players have had to take leave from their work every year.
“Indeed, some players were unable to take the time to attend both the OFC Champions League competition and the World Cup club.”
The Auckland team consists of forklift truck drivers, a carbonated drinker, brokers and a warehouse manager.
Thinking about the group of the death of Auckland, Posa added: “It is perhaps the most difficult group we could have drawn.
“We have two traditional European powerhouses in Bayern Munich and Benfica and Boca Juniors, who are also able to go completely.”
The chances can be stacked against Auckland, but Posa, which is temporary accusation on the side due to the absence of Albert Riera, has a history of Club World Cup disturbances.
During his first stint with the club, Posa Auckland led to a fifth placed finish in the club World Cup 2009.
Posa would like nothing more to be more likely than repeating his success, but is a realist when it comes to the opportunities for his part to do this.
“It's nice to dream that we can be so competitive again,” he said. “However, we are realistic about the challenge.”