“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.
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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.”