Aziz Behich has claimed morale remains high in the Melbourne Heart camp despite their poor start to the 2013-14 A-League season.
Aziz Behich has claimed morale remains high in the Melbourne Heart camp despite their poor start to the 2013-14 A-League season.
The team from the red and white half of the city are yet to register a victory in five attempts this term, with a match at home to Sydney FC on Friday their next opportunity to get off the mark.
Behich, back at the club on loan from Turkish side Bursaspor, acknowledged things haven’t gone to plan for John Aloisi’s men so far, but he believes a change in fortune is just around the corner.
“We are disappointed about not winning, because we are a club that wants to win games,” he said on Wednesday.
“But in saying that, with our performances that we’re putting in, I do believe that we deserve more out of them.
“We’re putting in solid performances, we’re just not hitting the back of the net. So, hopefully that can turn around on Friday.
“We’ve still got a positive buzz about us. All the boys are pretty confident still. We’ve got a tight group, we’ve got good leaders in the group.”
There have been some promising signs for the Heart, who led reigning champions Central Coast 2-0 at home in Round 2, before dominating the first half of their match away to Brisbane Roar two weeks later.
They were beaten 1-0 at home by Western Sydney Wanderers last Friday, punished by the visitors after failing to seize their opportunity in front of goal, a recurring issue Behich is well aware of.
“We’re playing well, the last couple of week especially,” he said.
“We’re creating more (chances) than the opposition, it’s just that lack of … (we) just need to be a bit more ruthless in front of goal. Hopefully (on) Friday that can change.
“I think we’re heading in the right direction. Once we start hitting the back of the net, we won’t stop.
“It is only five games into the season, you want to start (winning) early. But the thing about the A-League is, you win one or two games and you’re back up there again.”
His struggle for game-time since joining Bursaspor in January has seen five-cap Socceroo Behich fall down the pecking order in the battle to fill Australia’s vacant left-back berth.
The 22-year-old still harbours ambitions of featuring regularly on the international scene, but knows his club form is crucial to realising those hopes.
“It is something I do have my eye on,” Behich said.
“I’ve had a taste of it, it’s obviously a great honour to play for your country.
“But in saying that, you’ve got to do well for your club, first and foremost I’m playing for Heart and I want to do my best I can for the club.”
