Hearts plot path to Champions League comeback for the ages as 'promise' made over Jambos frustration
Hearts are heading back into Champions League qualifying action this coming week.
Stephen Kingsley insists Hearts are aiming to create a snowball effect versus Sturm Graz on Tuesday that clears a path to an epic Champions League comeback.
The Jambos’ second round qualifier versus Austrian opposition looks all but lost after a sobering 4-0 loss at the Merkur Arena in leg one. There were first half positives as new head coach Wouter Vrancken installs his style of play but an early second 45 collapse shipped three goals off to Sturm Graz and leaves Hearts staring at an exit.
Left-back Kingsley insists the Premiership team can’t lose hope of a stunning victory but an aggressive approach to getting the opener at a packed Tynecastle will be vital. If that can be achieved, then anything is possible, albeit with the knowledge of how great a task awaits them.
Can Hearts qualifying for next round of Champions League?
“If you look at the game on Tuesday, I know they obviously scored early but then after that there wasn't much in it,” Kingsley explained after Friday’s friendly win over Raith Rovers. “We had chances. We could have went and drew 1-1 at half time. So no, I don't think we need to score in the first five minutes. to be honest. I think as long as we start on the front foot and we show the intent to be the aggressor and take the game to them, and I think we will. To be honest.
“I think coming back to Tynecastle has obviously served us well in the past and we always up our game there. But we definitely need to look to be aggressive and hopefully get the first one and show what we're about in the first half. Then hopefully the snowballs start rolling. Everyone's spoke about it, especially in our changing room. When you look at the scoreline and the actual performance, it's very hard to take getting beat 4-0.
“I've been a part of games in Europe where it's been 4-0 or 5-0 and it rightfully has been a 4-0 or 5-0 game. There's been a couple. I didn't feel like that. I know the result was bad, which it was, and it wasn't good enough. It wasn't good enough in both boxes. We're positive that going forward we know we can create chances. We should be scoring goals. We should be doing better defensively. If we get that bit right, we know for a fact that we're going to kick on. We believe it's a matter of time and we just need to keep working hard. Hopefully Tuesday's going to be a good occasion for everyone involved.”
There are still some early teething issues with a new-look Hearts team being moulded in Vrancken’s image. It is sparking some frustrations, but they are sitting with the players and head coach too, says Kingsley. He reckons that is normal and to be expected in this process.
How are Hearts adapting to life under Wouter Vrancken?
“There's frustration on the pitch as well, I can promise you that,” Kingsley said. “I think naturally it's going to be frustrating for the gaffer because obviously he's coming in, it's not a long time that he's had with us. You think about coming back in and then obviously the first qualifier was last week.
“It's not a long time and I'm guessing that doesn’t really help. I think it's similar to last Tuesday. There's times where you can see what we're trying to do and there's a genuine attempt to get things right and to do things properly the way the gaffer wants us to do it. Then there's times where the gaffer could be frustrated and we get frustrated as well because it doesn't happen the way we want it to. It's just normal. As I said, the most important thing is to get these games in and keep going and keep trying to do the things that he wants us to do. That's another one of them.
“It's a new style so it's not going to be perfect straight away. It's just a different manager, different style, different philosophy. I think it's just going to take time to adapt. It takes time to adapt to any style to be honest but one that I think the gaffer is looking for, fast, exciting, good free-flowing football, is obviously a bit different from how our last manager wanted to play “It's going to take time and obviously it's a new group of players as well. There's been so much change over the course of the summer. I just find that finding our feet and finding that balance of what the gaffer wants and putting it into practice. It's much better having these types of games instead of training. You can actually put it to the test against teams. It's a good test.”
With captain Craig Halkett injured, the likes of Kingsley as senior players are stepping up to take leadership roles within the changing room, leading by example in the friendly with Raith. Friendly or not, leadership is not something he accepts lightly, and he hopes to repay Vrancken’s trust.
“Wearing the captain’s armband is a big honour no matter who it's for or what stage it is, even if it's a friendly, it doesn't matter,” the 32-year-old added. “You do feel that air of confidence that's been placed on you to lead the team. But at the same time, I don't think anything has really changed in the sense that I've always been a character that wants to show his experience and help boys around him and try and be that figure that can be reliable and consistent. That's what I've prided myself on the last few years and that's not changed. That part of me hasn't changed. It's been really nice to hear that the gaffer wants to put me in that role. Hopefully I can keep repaying the favour.”