Having failed to defend their Hyundai A-League double, Melbourne Victory must make up for their domestic disappointments by continuing their AFC Champions League (ACL) run, according to Besart Berisha.
The marquee striker called on Victory to “dream” of Asian success when they face K-League champions Jeonbuk Motors in the ACL’s Round of 16 over the next fortnight.
Victory have progressed from their ACL group for the first time this season and having finished sixth in the A-League in 2015-16, Berisha indicated elimination at this stage of the continental competition would be hard to take.
Socceroo rues missed chance to meet Victory in ACL
“We are still hungry and we know we didn’t achieve what we wanted in the A-League,” he said on Thursday.
“This is a chance to finish [the season] good and we really want to take this opportunity.
“I always say, ‘we have to dream’ because this Champions League is not coming every year. So we are now so far [in the competition], so let’s take it now.”
Victory will host Jeonbuk on Tuesday before heading to South Korea for the second leg on May 24.
Berisha has urged the Big V to hit Jeonbuk early and take a big advantage into the away leg.
“It’s crucial. You have to get a good home result and then hoping away you can score a goal,” the 30-year-old said.
“This is a really important to us and we are really focused to have a good result at home.”
Next week’s match will be veteran forward Archie Thompson’s last home game for Victory and Berisha appealed to the club’s fans to pack AAMI Park to send of a “legend in this club” off in style.
