Melbourne Victory international marquee signing Besart Berisha has expressed his desire to increase his footballing success as his new side unveiled him atop Melbourne’s Eureka Tower – a reflection of the club’s towering ambitions this season.
“I come to this club because the ambition is to be the best in the A-League and this is what I want, I want to win trophies,” said Berisha.
“The last few years I have won trophies and it’s left me very hungry. I want to win more and this is why I came here – I came here to win trophies.”
The prolific goalscorer – who has netted 48 goals in 76 appearances in the A-League – spoke of his respect for the professionalism of the Melbourne Victory organisation, describing the chance to play for the club as a “privilege”.
“I thought always that this club is definitely the biggest club in Australia and I think it’s a club that is very professional and ambitious. They always want to be the best club in Australia and I always respect this and love this about this club,” he said.
“I think it’s a privilege to be in this club just all around and the staff and the coaching staff and the players, so it’s really, really is a great club.”
Having broken the hearts of Victory supporters while at Brisbane, scoring in last season’s semi-final en route to the title, Berisha says it was strictly business and says being at Melbourne Victory has already motivated him to continue his successes.
“Look, it’s something that I had to do my job for my old club and it was definitely not easy but this is the way I am, I want to do everything for my club and in this time was Brisbane my club,” said the two-time A-League champion.
“[Melbourne Victory] is definitely a big club but it just makes me more motivated to win more trophies and perform better and work harder – I love that and it just really drive me to get better.”
Both revered and loathed by A-League fans, Berisha seems a polarising character in footballing circles leading some to think that Victory fans may not embrace the Albanian automatically but the star striker maintains he only wants to make the club and supporters happy.
“I play for the supporters because they are the people we play for and they are very important to me – they have been always to me,” said Berisha.
“I am a person who give always 100 per cent on the field. I cannot lose so, I really want always to win and make sure the club and the supporters are happy.”
Berisha has begun training with the rest of the Melbourne Victory squad and revealed he was settling in well with his new team-mates, saying “it feels like a family” and says he has a great understanding with his teammates, especially his new strike partner Archie Thompson who he describes as “a great guy”.
He will wear the number 8 jersey during the 2014/15 Hyundai A-League season.
