The 31-year-old came under scrutiny after failing to find the net for three weeks in a row despite a hat-trick in the 6-1 thrashing of Wellington Phoenix in Round 4.

But the Albanian has since bounced back from the biref drought and scored five in the past three games, including a hat-trick against Western Sydney Wanderers and a Melbourne Derby winner on Saturday.

“I still can’t believe people criticise Bes,” Valeri told FourFourTwo at the new adidas store at Westfield Southland.

“I don’t read newspapers – I haven’t got time with three kids to sit down and read it – I just hear words going around, but I don’t know why he cops it when he does the job every year.

“It’s hard… when I do see players of mine being criticised because fans, members and other people get to see him for 90 minutes.

“I see him every day, training and working hard, so for me to see the criticism hurts.

“That being said, we’re professional footballers, I think he was getting criticised and he came out and scored a hat-trick, so he doesn’t have to say much does he?”

Berisha equalled Archie Thompson’s all-time A-League goal scoring record in the 2-1 derby win over Melbourne City on Saturday and now sits on 90.

The Albanian’s goal sealed the victory and in the post-match television interview, he admitted smashing stuff up at half-time after failing to take his first-half chances.

While Valeri said he did not see the outburst, he backed coach Kevin Muscat’s comments about Berisha’s endeavour.

“I knew he would’ve been angry at himself, he did miss a couple of good chances,” he said.

“We told him ‘it will come’ and with some positive words from the boys backing him, his desire and hunger to score… in the end he got the winner.

“He does have a lot self-belief, Bes is a friend and leader in the team, but he’s hard on himself, he’s very hard on himself.

“He really takes everything to heart, so when we don’t score, when he doesn’t score, he really feels it.

“It’s good, it’s positive and he lives with that… he wears it on his sleeve and that’s something you really have to admire, he lives for scoring goals and winning titles.

“He hasn’t spoken to me about breaking any record, I don’t that’s important to him. I think he’s really focused on winning trophies for this club and that’s what will define.”

Victory lock horns with Central Coast Mariners next Wednesday at AAMI Park.