Twelve months ago the Navy Blues achieved an admirable bronze medal finish at the competition in Morocco.
Along the way they toppled host team Moghreb Tétouan, CAF representatives ES Sétif, CONMEBOL winners San Lorenzo and finally CONCACAF champions Cruz Azul in the play-off for third and fourth.
But despite the recent success coach Ramon Tribulietx says his side are under no false illusions about the task they face at this year’s tournament in Japan.
“We are very much the underdogs,” he says.
“The first game is going to be very difficult for us, the J-League champions are going to be a very, very good team. We have played there a few times and we understand how good these players are.
“We need to be realistic otherwise we would be making a mistake. Being humble is going to help us turn up in the right way.
“Our goals remain the same and we acknowledge that we are a lot smaller than any of the other clubs competing at the tournament.
“We haven’t changed anything in the way we prepare, we have tried to improve a few things from last season because when you look at those games we were very competitive, but there were some things that could have been done a little bit better.
“That’s the reality and we have to aim to get better, otherwise you get stuck at a level and people catch up.”
On Sunday Auckland City FC played their final ASB Premiership match in New Zealand before departing for Japan, defeating Canterbury United 4-1 to remain at the top of the table.
The Navy Blues will open the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup on 10 December, taking on the yet-to-be-determined J-League champions.
For more on Auckland City FC visit aucklandcityfc.com

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