Melbourne Heart coach John Van `t Schip is putting his contract celebrations on ice to focus on making the A-League finals.
Van `t Schip returned to Melbourne to rescue the ailing Heart three months ago as interim coach and has been rewarded with a new three year deal.
The 50-year-old, who was the club’s inaugural coach from 2009-12 said he felt at home in Melbourne and the offer was too good to refuse.
“This new challenge was too big and too good to be true to not accept it and I’m very happy that I’m going to stay for a longer period now,” he said.
While excited about the Heart’s future under new majority owners, soccer giants Manchester City, van `t Schip says their match against Central Coast at AAMI Park on Sunday is the priority.
The ninth-placed Heart have a faint hope of making the finals thanks to their sudden rise under Van `t Schip.
“We still have a chance of getting into the finals so we know what we have to do,” he said.
The coach’s first game back at the club was a 0-0 draw with the Mariners in round 13 in early January and he was eager to see how the side had improved.
Van `t Schip said winning was now more important than improving or playing attractive football.
“We’re in a certain situation where you have to win.
“We will try to do it the way we want, playing good football.
“In a home game I think we feel very good at AAMI Park and hopefully we can get a win.”
It will be the Mariners’ third game in just eight games, which included a trip to China to face Beijing Guoan in the Asian Champions’ League on Wednesday night.
Van `t Schip felt that the fourth-placed Mariners had too much to play for to let themselves slip.
“Central Coast are coming from a long trip but they are trying to secure their spot in the finals as well and they’ll be well-prepared for the game against us.”
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