Melbourne City defender Harrison Delbridge says newfound confidence in the side is fuelling success this season.

Delbridge said the side’s playing system was ensuring they played good football and were coming together as a team.

“This team has a confidence about them that we can have our backs up against the wall and battle our way through it,” he said.

“Confidence in our style of play, where maybe something doesn’t go your way but then responding to it.

“A response that in past seasons while I’ve been here we haven’t shown as consistently.

“I think that’s a piece that we’ve added.”

Individually this has led to career-best season for Delbridge, one he has been “loving” under the tutelage of coach Erick Mombaerts.

“I’m in a system that I’m really enjoying and playing for a coach that I really enjoy,” Delbridge said.

“I think it’s showing on the field, not just me personally but all of the boys.

“You can tell we’re enjoying our football and that’s what you want to be doing – be in good form and get results.”

Delbridge has been touted as a potential candidate for the Socceroos, a prospect which has the centreback excited, but still focused on results and playing the best football he can.

“I think everyone wants to play for their county,” he said.

“But right now my main goal is [for us] to do as well as we can in the league, and for me to be the best defender I can be.”

Defensively, Delbridge hopes the team can button up their late-game lapses, which has seen them concede 14 goals this season including nine in their last three matches.

They also have only one clean sheet through eight games.

“We want to be getting clean sheets, and we haven’t had enough of those this year,” he said.

“It’s been a big priority for us, and one that we’ve focused on over the week.

“We’re looking to fix that going forward because the less opportunities and goals we concede to teams [means] we’re going to be a very dangerous team to have to deal with going forward.”

Feature image credit: Melbourne City