The Albanian is now just one goal shy of equalling Archie Thompson’s record of the most goals in A-League history, currently sitting on 89.

Victory defender James Donachie said during the week, Victory was under the radar with the unprecedented lack of scrutiny on the glamour club.

Victory now sit third on the table with a game in hand, while Berisha leads the golden boot with eight goals as Muscat defended his doubters during the week and after the Wanderers game.

“Of course (it fires me up), I’m really good when the pressure is on and also the critics have come in, so sometimes in football it just motivates you and this is what happened to me,” Berisha said.

“It wasn’t something I was having big cries about, but the critics have been loud and clear and they motivate me to drive and to work harder and this is what I did in training.

“It’s just about how you deal with it and of course you need the right people to surround you and this what I have, I have a great team behind me and a great coach who always backs me and believes in me.

“This is really important in football especially when you get tough days and this is what happened and I’m really happy to have them around me.

“When you get older, you get smarter and you see differently, personally I’m really happy with my situation at the moment… I try to be as professional as I can on and off the field.”

Berisha paid tribute to former teammate and Victory legend Thompson and indicated there was bigger fish to fry - winning his fourth A-League Championship.

“Archie for me is a legend in Australia, he’s a great striker, I never thought I’d be close to him scoring goals,” he said.

“I’m very happy and proud I’m so close to break the record, at the end of the day for all you get you realise the most important things are the team trophies and silverware.

“This is what I’m aiming for, hoping we can achieve great things for the team and club.

“At the end of the day he knows one footballer will come and break records and I believe if I do it, somebody else will come and break mine, so this is the way it goes in sport and I guess records are made to break.”