The tight nature of the Hyundai A-League and the potential for improvement in his side has Milan Duric convinced Central Coast Mariners are genuine finals contenders.
Perennial strugglers in recent seasons with consecutive wooden spoons, the Mariners are showing signs of life under Alen Stajcic in 2019/20.
And Serbian play-maker Duric has been a key factor in their mini-resurgence.
Stajcic’s side head into the final match of 2019 five points adrift of the top six, although they have two games in hand on a few sides above them.
“We think about this (going into top six) and we are giving our all to go into the top six,” Duric admitted to a-league.com.au on Monday.
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“This is our destination for this year, to go into the top six teams.
“I really believe because in this league everyone can beat everyone, it’s not like in other countries with just two or three clubs that win all the games, here is different.
“If we keep taking good results then immediately we will go up one or two places, and again we’ll have one game less (than the other teams).”
Duric’s ability to strike – and regularly score – from distance has been a feature of his game since arriving in Gosford at the start of the campaign.
The midfielder has four goals to his name already this season, and his latest effort helped the
Mariners beat Adelaide United 2-1 and move off the foot of the Hyundai A-League ladder.
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“In my career I have (scored) goals like this, but here in Australia my shots have been very good,” he said.
“I hope I will score more goals like this, if I get more balls outside of the box.
“When I score [like I did against Adelaide United last week] I am very happy because we need more wins like this.
“We have so many young players and they need the confidence to play better.”
Perth Glory are the Mariners’ next opponents for the club’s traditional New Year’s Eve fixture at Central Coast Stadium.
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The reigning Premiers have hit form in recent weeks, winning their last three matches on the bounce and scoring 11 goals.
But the Mariners won’t fear Tony Popovic’s side, having come away from Perth with a shock 2-1 win earlier this season.
“I remember when we were in the dressing room before the game our coach said ‘if you want to be the best you must beat the best’,” Duric said of the Round 4 win at HBF Park.
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“If you want to be up there you have to fight, this is true and we believed it in this win, we showed a good performance and we won the game.
“I watched the last three or four games of Perth and they play better and better, I think just now Perth are in good form.
“[Bruno] Fornaroli and [Diego] Castro, they are two important players for Perth, experienced players, and if Castro and Fornaroli have a good game this is for me our biggest test,” Duric added.
“We are giving all of us 100%, if we go like our last game I’m not scared of this game.
“If we show the same like last week with Adelaide, the best team will win but we need to show the same like last week.”
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