Florin Berenguer scored four times between 2018 and 2021.
This season, he has five goals, five assists and has created 44 chances for Melbourne City’s fierce attack.
It is form that made the 33-year-old midfielder, to many, a contender for the Johnny Warren Medal thanks to his virtuoso work in the Premiers’ attacking third; and which made people put a slight asterisk next to Melbourne City’s Championship claims because of his absence through injury, until last weekend.
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The Frenchman is loving his football in Australia so much he has extended his deal into a fifth season.
And that, as much as anything tactical, might explain why suddenly, you might be noticing a player for the first time who has been right in front of you for the last three seasons.
“That’s the thing – people are saying now, he can score, give more assists,” Berenguer mused, chatting to KEEPUP.
“Sometimes, this season, a different role, more free, bit higher, not as a second striker, but No.10 – depends on the player around me.
“I just enjoy being there with the boys. Not just me or Macca (Jamie Maclaren): everyone stepped up, done great this season.”
Thankfully, Berenguer was patient after his tough initiation at City; because free wheeling and free scoring was not a trait of his initial time in the league.
“To be honest, it was a bit hard the first season when I came: new league, new language, didn’t speak English at all, and everything was new,” he reflected.
“I didn’t play the best position on the field for me.
“When Erick Mombaerts came, (he brought) me back in the midfield, done a great season – FFA Cup season, first Grand Final – and after last year with the double, again.
“So not a big change in perspective in last three years, more for me with score sheet.”
If there is one change from last season, to this, perhaps, it is confidence.
“I don’t think luck,” he said.
“This season, with confidence, we can see when you score one, you keep scoring.
“Why didn’t this happen before?
“I’m fully confident, no injury, feel 100%, everything (going) well. Even after this, and I know I am even speaking with some of my family, when I go on the pitch, my mind isn’t just give assist, or score, I just want to give my best. If I can score, assist, even better.
“I know I could change this – maybe I can score more, be more influence, or put my name in the scoresheet, take more risks, take more chances, but this is my nature I grew up with.”
It is also a result of extra time being put in at the training park; scoring has become “more natural”.
“They told me a few times, we work on this, we work on finishing at training, taking more chances; sometimes stop looking for a better player in a better position if you can yourself score and do something better.
“We’ve been working a bit on this.
“It wasn’t a main focus saying you have to score five to 10. It was something natural. This season went well.”
Berenguer was back in the line-up for the second leg of the Semi-Final, managing 58 minutes. He confesses he was also underdone for last year’s decider, having felt something in his calf in that year’s Semi-Final. But he did everything in his power to be fit for City’s Championship tilt after injuring his hamstring against Melbourne Victory in April.
“Worst feeling … probably the worst timing,” he said.
“It is part of the game, but I was really sad with it because everything was going well and it was the day before flying to Thailand (for the AFC Champions League)…
“Really disappointed with this but it is part of the game, could happen anytime to anyone, when this happened against Victory, probably took two-three days to get the heads up and then started the rehab.”
Their target date was the 21st, the second leg, and he made it – but heading into the decider it will be his first full training session with his peers since the injury!
It means he is available for selection again for the big one, which will have his family and friends back in France watching with interest.
“The family and parents, brothers, watch the game when they can – not 2am or 3am in the morning, (they) watch in the morning (later). My Mother always followed me from young, watching every game, speak about the game, I know there are some people watching Australian league when they can,” he said.
And they’ll have to now, for another season.
“I didn’t think I will stay five seasons,” he reflected.
“It was a great opportunity, we say with the family we take the experience and try it out.
“Took us six months to understand the language, started from zero.
“The kids at school without speaking English, friends, we didn’t expect to stay so long.
“(But) we are really happy, and the way things passed in first two seasons, extending contract, we really happy in Melbourne, Australia, happy to extend for a fifth season.”
And there lies one other secret to Berenguer’s growing prominence on the park.
“Honestly, it was a big step when I really started to understand (English),” he said.
“When you’re on the pitch, one ball for 22 players…speak the same language…but for the tactical things, when you want to ask questions or speak to players, or for your confidence (it is hard).
“Now if you want to say something, or be louder, it is probably part of the confidence, to be able to get on the pitch, or give instruction to a team-mate. Or understand what someone is saying to you, it is a big help…that’s the main thing, being able to be part of the boys, go out for dinner and feel part of it.”
