Melbourne Heart FC’s Michael Marrone feels he has continued to improve throughout the season ahead of the Club’s match with Adelaide United.
Melbourne Heart FC-s Michael Marrone feels he has continued to improve throughout the season ahead of the Club-s match with Adelaide United.
As one of only three players in the Heart squad to start every match this season, Marrone has played a pivotal role in the side-s recent rise into the top six, emerging as an attacking force from the right full back position.
Marrone said his recent rise can be attributed to an enhanced level of fitness garnered through increased match play this season.
“I feel I-ve got better physically especially, in the way that at the start of the year I didn-t feel like I was up to scratch, that I could run out the 90 minutes, I didn-t feel as sharp as I do now. I think along with the training, the games have helped and I feel a lot better,” he said.
Having developed a strong understanding with youngster Adrian Zahra, the duo have emerged as a formidable pairing on the right flank, peppering opposition defenders with their pace and dribbling ability.
Marrone praised Zahra-s performances, saying the former Victorian Premier League U/21 Player of the Year defensive strength makes him a valuable team mate.
“Adrian has been excellent. You look at him in an attacking sense and he has got a lot of pace, he-s fairly small and can dip around defenders, but he also does a lot of work defensively which he probably doesn-t get credit for,” he said.
“He covers a lot for me and will track back all the time, you don-t have to tell him. When I can, but it depends on the opposition and how they play, I am told to get forward as much as possible, get on the overlap, make it difficult for (the opposition)when they-re defending.”
