Fred’s trademark smile has disappeared: he’s got a steely look in his eyes on the eve of Melbourne’s biggest football carnivale: the Hyundai A-League Grand Final.

“When I came here,” says Fred with the assistance of a translator, “I only thought about giving my best and conquering the next goal which is the next game. But to win the Hyundai A-League crown was the main objective that I had from the start when I arrived last May.”

But Fred is under no illusions. Tonight’s opposition are capable of spoiling the party for the estimated 55,000 guests at the cathedral of Hyundai A-League football, Telstra Dome.

Fred is a big admirer of three of the Reds’ star men. “I admire Nathan Burns of Adelaide United and their two Brazilians Diego and Fernando. They are dangerous players who I respect,” he says.

Decibels at Dome
Telstra Dome – with its wall of sound, flags, chanting – is something that Fred has become accustomed to this season. And it’s not too different to what he enjoyed during his career back home in Brazil with clubs like América-MG where he scored 20 goals in 80 appearances and played alongside Arsenal’s Giberto Silva and at Guarani Minas Gerais. Fred was equal top scorer with former Bayern Munich striker Giovane Elber.

“There is much gusto with the fans in Brazil and that’s the same at Telstra Dome. In Brazil, like here, they are waving flags and making a lot of noise. I like it, it helps you to play your best,” says the 27 year-old, whose full name is Helbert Frederico Carreiro da Silva.

And as the players walk out onto the manicured surface of Telstra Dome at 6pm tonight, Fred expects the Victory fans to raise the roof for “one of the biggest games in my career.”