While Melbourne Heart FC striker Josip Tadic can’t quite put his finger on it, the Croatian marksman believes Heart’s home form could be attributed to the Club’s passionate supporter base.
While Melbourne Heart FC striker Josip Tadic can-t quite put his finger on it, the Croatian marksman believes Heart-s home form could be attributed to the Club-s passionate supporter base.
Heart has lost just twice at home this season in nine matches – by one-goal margins – and the Club has won three out of three at AAMI Park in 2013.
Tadic, 25, has scored in those three encounters, against the Newcastle Jets, Brisbane Roar and Adelaide United, and five of his six goals this season have come at AAMI.
His fifth minute strike on Friday night, a goal he dedicated to the Heart faithful, helped set up a 2-0 win over Adelaide to boost Heart into fifth position on the ladder.
“I am happy because I have now scored six goals, but for me I am most happy that we won this game and we played well,” Tadic said.
“For me I am most happy for the team to get three points.
“I think when we play at home we have more confidence; I don-t know why.
“But [against Adelaide] we played very smart, we kept the ball in the second half, we didn’t allow Adelaide to threaten our goal so it was a very good win.
“For us it-s very nice when so many people come and our fans come and support us.
“That-s why we have won so many at home, they are our 12th player on the pitch.”
Tadic’s only goal away from home was a sensational right-foot volley in the team’s 2-1 loss against Western Sydney Wanderers in round five.
Tadic hopes to cause the Wanderers’ disciplined defence more problems this weekend, to continue Heart’s tilt for finals football.
“When we started the season we still believe [that the team could qualify for the A-League finals] and I think that we can make it,” Tadic said.
Heart will have to recover for the loss of inspirational captain Fred, who has been ruled out for a month with a quad strain, sustained in Friday night’s match.
“I saw [Fred] fter the game and he was very sad. We don-t really know what happened at that moment, but now we know it-s a serious injury,” Tadic said.
“Of course it-s not really good news for the team. It-s a big loss, because he-s an important player for this team and the captain so we hope he gets better soon.”
