Melbourne Heart coach John van ‘t Schip says he would be disappointed with his stint in the Hyundai A-League if his team fails to make the finals this season.
Melbourne Heart coach John van ‘t Schip says he would be disappointed with his stint in the Hyundai A-League if his team fails to make the finals this season.
A win over Sydney FC at AAMI Park on Saturday night would secure Heart’s place in the top six and their first ever finals appearance.
Van ‘t Schip, who has been in charge since Heart entered the league at the start of last season and will leave at the end of this campaign, said he would be unhappy with his spell in Australia if his team again missed out on a finals place.
“I would be disappointed for me, looking at the result,” the Dutchman said.
“On the other side, I think building up a club was a big challenge and a great honour to be part of it and having the backing of the board and the football department.
“But I’m a professional and after the first year … and this year really making good steps on the pitch with young players in the way of playing, I would be disappointed, that’s for sure.
“If we get into the finals I think that would be great for the club, for the history of the club, and also great for a coach.”
Heart, who sat as high as second on the table earlier this season, are unbeaten in four matches after a poor start to 2012.
Van ‘t Schip’s men have impressed with their performances, but he said there would be no excuses if they missed out on a top-six place.
“At the end you have to make sure that you’re in the finals because the other teams have the same story,” he said.
“They all have their good momentum in the season and their moments that things are not going that well.
“So you just have to make sure that at the end of the season you are in the right position … if you’re not there, there are no excuses because the ladder will tell everything.”
Despite the efforts of young guns Eli Babalj and Mate Dugandzic in the attacking third, Heart have struggled to take their chances this season – including in Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Wellington Phoenix.
The last time Heart managed to score more than one goal in a game was in their 4-0 thrashing of Sydney on December 29 last year.
Van ‘t Schip is unlikely to make any changes to the starting side that drew with Phoenix, and said star playmaker Fred – who was substituted late in the draw – would be fit to play.
“He’s okay. He was training today so we just have to manage him till the end,” van ‘t Schip said.
“It’s going to be every time – having a look what he’s feeling, how he’s feeling like, and I think we’re doing that quite well.”
“He’s been on the pitch every time and playing well so we’re happy that we have him.”
