Claudio Braga insists he'll rest when he's dead amid Hearts gauntlet as Rangers trio face 'consequences'
The Hearts striker has looked ahead to a big Wednesday night against Rangers.
Claudio Braga insists he’ll rest when he’s six feet under as Hearts prepare to welcome friends-turned foes to Tynecastle on Wednesday.
Rangers, led by ex-boss Derek McInnes and with a clutch of former Gorgie stars in their squad, are up next for Wouter Vrancken’s Jambos. They are in the midst of a demanding fixture gauntlet where square pegs in round holes were deployed during Sunday’s 2-0 Premiership win at Motherwell.
The Portuguese frontman is one player the capital club are grateful for his ability to dodge the injury bug that has impacted stars like Craig Halkett, Tom Renaud, Blair Spittal and Ageu, to name a few. It’s something that angers Braga every time he see another friend go down in pain but it is left up to the rest of the changing room to continue grinding out Hearts results. That means a former teammate’s deadly advice must be deployed.
Claudio Braga on Hearts injuries
Braga said: “Every time you look, you just lose somebody. But in a way, if we go on a pitch like we did on Sunday and fight for each other, it doesn't matter. You have players playing out of position. I'll probably be the next one! Like Rogers Mato, for example, he already plays as a full-back. I feel like that's a kind of spirit that can elevate us a little bit more compared to the negatives of having guys injured. I think we just need to fight for them and fight for us on the pitch.
“Of course, it's hard when you see so many injuries, and it's hard to lose players that are used to playing every week. And then you just need to adapt, get a chemistry with new players. But at the same time, like I said, we can't just have excuses. It's hard but it can't be an excuse.
“It's kind of angry because you see guys that you share all the days with and suddenly it's like, ‘oh, this is an hamstring, oh, this one, another injury, one in the training.’ It's just like, it's hard because you care about these people and you know they will help you in the team. I think you have a little bit of motivational side on that because you want to also do good for them.
“Because it's hard, you know, like we are here, we are tired and everything. And sometimes we lose, but it's worse to be injured for your side. I just praise God because I've never been injured that bad. I'm really happy with that. And when you see guys that you care a lot and just suddenly they are unlucky enough to get the big injury and miss a lot of games, it's just hard. Last year, a player from our team was tired and he told me, ‘when you die, you have time to rest.’ So, I think we need to think a little bit like that.”
After defeats to Celtic and Trabzonspor, Hearts welcomed a gritty victory in the wind and rain at Fir Park. His header put the visitors on their way before Calvin Miller’s winner with the family feel in the camp amid adversity running deep. Braga said: “It was just bouncing back from these last two results, especially the one in the league. We came here with the weather being crazy, so we stick together, fight as a family and I feel that matters a lot.
What atmosphere awaits Rangers at Tynecastle vs Hearts?
“Because playing good is going to happen, but some days you won't. You need to play dirty and on Sunday we fight as a family and we got the win. I think it was hard for both sides, so it couldn't be an excuse because sometimes you want to run and you just couldn't. You couldn't run enough, but it was for both sides so you couldn't make excuses. I think it was a great cross from Sabah Kerjota and I was in the right place to score, so it was good.”
Next up is Rangers and a fever-pitch Tynecastle is set to welcome Braga and co onto the pitch. McInnes makes his return to Gorgie for the first time since swapping Hearts’ dugout for Ibrox, while ex-Jambos ace James Penrice is also likely to play. Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin are out of the game with injury, but also left for Rangers alongside McInnes, and their former teammate says they now must face the music from their once-adoring faithful. His mum could be out on the pitch and the Hearts talisman would still want a win at all costs.
Braga added: “I really like Derek. I have nothing bad to say about him, Shanks or Cammy. I shared one amazing year with them and really love them as people. So, of course, it will be good to face them in a way, but I have nothing but love for them. We shared the locker room with them and we know them personally.
“And I couldn't just hate them just because they left the club. That's what a football player professionally needs to do. And that's their choice. I just could never judge that. But, I believe it will be a strong atmosphere for them. And that was their choice. So now, of course, they have the consequences. And they knew that, I think, when they left. But yeah, I think our focus and my focus and the team's focus needs to be on the game and not on the backstage. It could be my mother playing there! I don't really care. I want to win every game.
“Players playing out of position, a lot of injuries, Wednesday night will not be different for sure. I think one of the things we need to do, is just like if we fight like we fought on Sunday. Then the quality will come.”