MELBOURNE Heart striker Richard Garcia says the team has put the Lucas Neill controversy behind it and is concentrating on making the finals for a second straight season.
The fallout from Neill's decision to snub Heart at the last minute to accept an offer to join Sydney FC continues to be a talking point, exacerbated by the fact the clubs will meet at AAMI Park on Sunday in what will be Neill's debut for the Sky Blues.
Heart officials made it clear they were not happy with the Socceroos captain, who had indicated his keenness to link with the Victorian club. And the veteran was compelled to apologise to the club during his Sydney FC jersey presentation on Sunday.
All the talk now surrounds the extra spice added to a match that could influence the playoff hopes of both teams.
However, the experienced Garcia played down the Neill factor when asked if the players were upset with him for misleading the club.
"I don't know what happened . . . all I got was what happened in the press," Garcia said yesterday. "It doesn't bother me, to be honest. Why should it?
"Every player has a right to go where he wants. Lucas would have been great here but obviously Sydney is his home and that's why he made the decision.
"Sunday will be more about us getting the points and getting back into the top six . . . that is far more important than the Lucas issue."
Garcia, who joined Heart at the start of the season after a successful 12-year career in England, believes Neill's signing will be a boost for Sydney and says the 34-year-old should have no problems acclimatising to the A-League.
Neill was left clubless after parting on amicable terms with United Arab Emirates club Al Wasl two weeks ago.
"I'm sure he has still got it," Garcia said. "He reads the game really well and has an abundance of experience.
"I am sure he will be good for the club. His presence will give Sydney a very strong back four.
"Obviously he is coming from a different league. It might take him a couple of games to adjust but I'm sure he'll be in the flow of things pretty quick."
Heart is coming off a 2-0 loss away to Newcastle Jets last week -- a result that continued the club's appalling run of interstate and New Zealand losses this season. Heart has not won away from Victoria since beating Sydney FC 4-0 at Allianz Stadium in a round 13 game on December 29, 2011. Taking in last season, it has now gone 15 games without a victory on the road.
In contrast, Heart has lost twice in Melbourne this season and has won its past four games at AAMI Park.
FA CUP: Alex Ferguson admitted Nani could give him more selection headaches if he continued to put in displays of the kind that helped Manchester United to a 2-1 victory against Reading and a place in the FA Cup quarter-finals.
The Portuguese winger came off the bench in the first half to replace Phil Jones and scored after the break. He then set up Javier Hernandez for United's second goal, which proved crucial after Jobi McAnuff pulled one back for Reading.
"Nani's got great talent and I had a feeling he would win the game for us," Ferguson said.
In the semi-finals, United will face the winner of Chelsea and Middlesbrough.
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