Hearts dressing room hold confidence of Jambos improvement as key element 'didn't help' Champions League bid
Hearts have been put out the Champions League by Sturm Graz.
Jordi Altena insists Hearts will bounce back from their Champions League disappointment - with dressing room confidence remaining high.
The Jambos face Aberdeen this weekend in their Premiership opener after a 6-0 aggregate defeat in second round qualifying versus Sturm Graz. It was a tough start to the Wouter Vrancken era and it won’t get much easier with Benfica or St Gallen awaiting in the Europa League’s third round qualifiers.
Altena replaced Christian Borchgrevink in the starting XI for Tuesday’s 2-0 second leg defeat at Tynecastle against Austrian opposition and insisted there were good moments in the Champions League clashes despite defeat. The right-back realises the style has changed from Vrancken’s predecessor, Derek McInnes, and that is a process that ultimately takes time.
How will Hearts respond to Champions League exit?
He said: “Very confident. Again, I think we showed some good moments also today, also last week. We need to build on that, and I think we as a group are very confident to keep going. I think I had some good moments, also some moments I need to learn from. I think it's quite a change. I think for sure it's a new manager, so a new feel on the game, how he wants to play.
“So, of course, that takes some time to sink in. But, again, I think we can do good things together, so I'm confident. I think we know what we're able to do and what we can do. So I think that's the base of everything. I think we showed some good moments in both legs. At the end of the day, you need to score. And I think if you score, you make it much easier for yourself. And that's what we didn't do.”
The Jambos came into this two-legged tie off the back of a quick pre-season that included friendlies with St Mirren, Kilmarnock, Livingston, Arbroath, Rayo Vallecano and Raith Rovers, the latter of which came after the first leg in Graz. Altena admits preparation for the Champions League double-header could have been better as disappointment remains from the defeats.
He added: “Just disappointed. I think we expected more from ourselves. Yeah, just disappointed. I think it's short, especially when there have been a lot of changes. I think it was a short preparation, I think that didn't help. But at the end of the day, it's just disappointing that we didn't get more. I think we know what we're able to do and what we can do. So I think that's the base of everything.”