Newly-appointed Head Coach John van’t Schip firmly believes he can resurrect Melbourne Heart FC’s Hyundai A-League campaign, as he eyes the Club’s first win of the season against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.
Newly-appointed Head Coach John van-t Schip firmly believes he can resurrect Melbourne Heart FC-s Hyundai A-League campaign, as he eyes the Club-s first win of the season against the Central Coast Mariners on Sunday.
Van-t Schip returned to Australia yesterday afternoon and commenced his second spell at the Red and White on Friday morning, taking the reins at training at Epping Soccer Stadium.
Appointed as an interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2013-14 season on Monday, van-t Schip spoke of his desire to reverse the fortunes of Melbourne Heart, a Club he remains “very close to”.
Van-t Schip had recently returned to Europe after assisting coaching staff as the Club-s Technical Manager in December, before accepting the offer to return for his second spell as Head Coach.
“When the Club asked me to help them out after I was back in Europe, I had a talk with my wife and decided to do it and help the Club as it-s a Club that I-m very close to,” van-t Schip said.
“I helped build up [the Club] a few years ago and still all the people inside the Club are very close to me and have been very nice to me so it [wasn-t] difficult to say ‘ok I will come and help out for the remainder of the season-.”
While van-t Schip recognised the assignment at Melbourne Heart will be challenging, he reiterated his firm belief in the team, and did not rule out guiding the Red and White to a top six berth.
“I believe in this team, otherwise I would not take the job,” van-t Schip said.
“They are of course at the bottom but it doesn-t say that it-s the quality of the team.
“For me and the players and the Club, it-s important to win games and get results but most importantly to start playing some more free football.
“It-s a mindset and the mindset has to change; in enjoying being on the pitch and expressing yourself as an individual and as a team.
“We-re going out like every club in the A-League to get as many points as possible.
“We know that we-re in a difficult position to reach the play-offs but the main thing is to start playing good football again and if you do that, the results will normally follow.”
While van-t Schip-s first assignment is against the Central Coast Mariners at Bluetongue Stadium on Sunday, the Dutchman has not indicated he will make sweeping changes for his first match since taking charge.
“I-m not going to come here to just make changes,” van-t Schip said.
“I-m going to have a good look at players who are willing to play – who are not afraid and have no fear.
“But it-s about the team effort now that-s important and looking at some younger players and if they are knocking on the door, we-ll see if they can step in.
“I feel that we can still do some good things here and that-s why I also accepted to come back.”
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Pronunciation Guide: Jon VAH-nt SHK-IP
