Perth Glory’s nib Stadium has historically been a difficult hunting ground for Melbourne Heart FC, but Head Coach John van’t Schip hopes it could be the backdrop for the Red and White’s first win of the season.
Perth Glory’s nib Stadium has historically been a difficult hunting ground for Melbourne Heart FC, but Head Coach John van’t Schip hopes it could be the backdrop for the Red and White’s first win of the season.
But three points will not be the ultimate priority for van-t Schip – in just his second game in charge since returning to the helm as Head Coach – with playing style the key focus for the Dutchman.
With extra preparation for tomorrow night’s match under his belt – as opposed to one brief session prior to his side-s 0-0 draw against Central Coast Mariners on Sunday – van-t Schip will look to further implement his desired style to the Red and White.
However, with the five-day turnaround, time with the playing group has remained at a premium this week, with van-t Schip taking just four training sessions, ahead of the team-s departure from Melbourne airport this afternoon.
In those four sessions, van-t Schip has reiterated to his players that the message will not change for tomorrow night-s match – which is expected to be played in temperatures above 30 degrees, despite the 6.45pm local kick-off time.
“We had a few sessions more so we tried to do our thing and now again we will see if we can make another step against Perth,” van-t Schip said.
Click play on the video below to watch the full press conference with John van’t Schip at Tullamarine Airport.
“Of course every game, if you are a professional sportsman, you want to win – but my aim is not that because the focus has to be on playing well, playing the kind of game I have in mind and that-s what we have trained on and talked about and my opinion is that if you do that, the results will come.”
Following Sunday-s draw in Gosford, van-t Schip said he was pleased with the progress he saw in his first match in charge since his return as Head Coach.
“I think the boys played the way I asked them to; especially in the first half,” van-t Schip said.
“The second half was a little bit more difficult, but still then we were still playing some good football.”
Van-t Schip said there had been a strong focus on playing out from the back, while finding alternative routes to goal when the opposition closes out those options.
“I think this week again we worked on those things [in training] so hopefully we can show some improvement again against Perth,” van-t Schip said.
“We are always looking to turn things around, but the main thing is to focus on our game plan and if we do that well… then results eventually will have to come.”
