Melbourne Heart FC midfielder Richard Garcia has outlined that the primary focus against Sydney FC is earning three vital points and leapfrogging the Sky Blues back into the top six this Sunday.
Melbourne Heart FC midfielder Richard Garcia has outlined that the primary focus against Sydney FC is earning three vital points and leapfrogging the Sky Blues back into the top six this Sunday.
While off the field developments have threatened to distract the playing group this week, Garcia has reiterated that the Red and White have brushed off any external issues and focussed their energies towards a mouth-watering clash at AAMI Park.
“It should be a good game,” Garcia said.
“They-re hitting a bit of form and they-ll have the boost of [Lucas Neill] joining the squad so it should be a good game.”
Heart-s last win on home soil secured a record fourth consecutive home win, a feat the club had never previously achieved, and John Aloisi’s side is aiming for a fifth home win in a row.
“I think it-s more about us getting the points and trying to get back into the six, that-s more important than the Lucas issue I think,” Garcia said.
“I think us getting the points is more the objective.”
While Heart-s home form has been excellent in 2013, Garcia said he and his teammates were at a loss as to how to explain the side-s away from.
“It-s a hard one to answer, because I think some of our performances away from home have been pretty good, but maybe errors have cost us, it-s something were continually working on and we-re looking to put it right,” Garcia said.
“We pretty much play the same football and the same shape, so I don-t think it has anything to do with that.”
While Heart can take confidence the match is on home soil this week, Gracia said he and his teammates will have to be wary of the Sky Blues who are making a surge for finals.
“The fact they are on a good run and they are doing quite well at the moment, their confidence will be high,” Garcia said.
“As far as us being at home that will probably be good for us.
“We feel that we-re not playing too badly and we-ll go into the game confident.
“We-re not that far off it and that-s the beauty of the league; it-s so tight – you look that Glory beat the Mariners the other day, so top can beat bottom, bottom can beat top – that-s fantastic about the league.
“We-re in that mix so we just need to push on and be confident and be consistent.”
With Josip Tadic still sidelined, Garcia said he had started to link well with Eli Babalj.
“He-s definitely added something to the side, I think he-s getting stronger and stronger every week, his fitness is getting better,” Garcia said.
Garcia nearly provided the perfect cross which Babalj turned onto the upright against the Jets. Had the effort gone in, it could have changed the complexion of last Friday’s match.
“I-m sure he-ll get a few more goals under his belt before the season ends,” Garica said.
“We need the whole squad so it-s fantastic to have everyone fit and raring to go.”
