Melbourne Victory hitman Besart Berisha is primed for an assault on the Asian Champions League knockout stages.
Speaking to the media earlier this morning, the Albanian star looked ahead to next week’s first leg meeting with Korean outfit Jeonbuk.
“We are in the Round of 16 and we want to dream and keep going, we want to achieve [great things] in the Champions League,” said Berisha.
“This is a special game for us.”
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With the 2015-16 domestic campaign ending in disappointment on numerous fronts for Kevin Muscat’s side, the ACL remains a chance for redemption after a meek attempted A-League title defence.
“We didn’t achieve what we really wanted in the A-League,” the striker reflected.
“Now we’re still hungry and want to finish well, we have a chance now and we want to take it.
“I always say we have to dream because this is the Champions League, it doesn’t come every season…we’re now so far and let’s take it now.
Melbourne will try to make the most of a home ground advantage in the first leg fixture, although the Jeonbuk side will have not lack of time to rest with their K-League duties pushed back to accommodate the travel.
“This is a very important competition, you want to be the best in Asia and everybody does everything to have a good advantage and try to perform well,” said Berisha.
“Fresh players, fresh legs and turn up with the right mentality and attitude, so it’s really exciting.
“Watching the other Champions League games in Europe, it’s crucial you have to get a good home result and then hoping away you can score a goal.
“This is really important for us, we are really focused to have a good result at home.”
The match is made all the more important for the Victory, marking the final occasion club icon Archie Thompson will walk out onto the home field in the navy blue strip.
“It’s important to him, he’s been so wild here at this club and he’s a legend,” said Berisha.
This time his fellow striker also mentioned letting the veteran step-up for any available penalties.
“I’m going to ask him, because I have no problem and let somebody else take the penalty.
“Yeah I definitely will give it to him, if he wants, he can take it, absolutely no problem.”
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