Erceg slams Heraf’s approach

they were on Sunday, even against teams stronger than Japan.

Heraf later asked media: ‘‘Could you imagine how negative the mindset would be if we lost 6-1 for The most-capped Football Fern has example’’? delivered a strong rebuke of coach ‘‘We were working on not conceding Andreas Heraf’s mindset. too many goals and I think,

Heraf has come under heavy to be honest, conceding three goals criticism following his team’s 3-1 against Japan is OK. I don’t like it, loss to Japan in Wellington on because I want to play to nil, but Sunday, after saying they adopted we conceded three goals, but if an ultra-defensive approach, as you’re honest we could concede they ‘‘could have lost 8-0’’ had they five, six, seven or eight, and then it been more positive, playing a team would be really interesting what they ‘‘will never have [the] quality you would tell me here if we conceded to compete with’’. six, seven or eight.’’

Abby Erceg won 132 caps during While Japan, ranked 11th in the her 12-year international world, are stronger than the Football career, but retired last month. At from’’ and replied ‘‘What would Ferns, ranked 20th, the gulf the time she felt unable to comment you prefer’’? between the two is not as big as as to why, but yesterday, she The journalist suggested they Heraf was keen to suggest, did so while joining the chorus dismayed ‘‘try and play some football,’’ to especially at a time when the by Heraf’s mindset. which Heraf replied: ‘‘And losing country’s playing stocks have

‘‘You can see how I couldn’t 8-0’’? never been stronger. In addition to stand to wear that fern on my chest ‘‘When have they lost 8-0?’’ was coaching the Football Ferns, Heraf any more when his vision was to the journalist’s response, and is also New Zealand Football’s cower in a corner and not get beat Heraf said: ‘‘No, but you could lose technical director, charged with by too much. 8-0 against a team like they are. It’s overseeing the development of the

‘‘I don’t work my butt off to get not a negative mindset, it’s a smart game in the country. to Olympics or World Cups to not one.’’ A request has been made to NZ get beat by too much.’’ Before Sunday, the Football Football for an interview with him

Erceg said she had seen Heraf’s Ferns had played Japan six times as to how his approach against post-match comments, which in the past decade, managing two Japan can be reconciled with that suggested he didn’t have faith in draws and four losses, all of them role, as it goes against everything the quality of the players at his disposal, there as he spends more time in of the players and he will take two by a single goal. One draw came at young players have been taught as well as the reaction to charge. steps back for every step we’ve the 2008 Olympics and one loss at over the past seven years. them from all corners of the New ‘‘If people are up in arms taken forward in the past eight the 2011 World Cup. A request to interview NZ Football Zealand football community. already then that speaks volumes, years.’’ Under previous coaches John chief Andy Martin was unable

‘‘I think Andreas’ character and I think. I think his comments in In his post-match press conference, Herdman and Tony Readings, who to be fulfilled, as he is in Russia mindset is already on show, and the media also show his delusional Heraf was asked if his wasn’t resigned last November, the Ferns attending Fifa’s annual congress. will only continue to be put out state of mind regarding the ability ‘‘quite a negative mindset to start were rarely, if ever, as defensive as Abby Erceg, left.