Hearts update on Ageu's situation - and what Wouter Vrancken told Amadou Ba-Sy
French striker is still adjusting to Scottish football
Amadou Ba-Sy will be given time to adapt to life at Hearts but must work harder to become the club’s first-choice striker. Head coach Wouter Vrancken wants to see more energy from Ba-Sy, a summer signing from the French third-tier club Rouen, and will work with the player to help him improve.
Sunday’s 4-0 win over Dundee United included some groans from Hearts supporters at Ba-Sy’s display. Vrancken was seen on the touchline demanding more from the Frenchman, who is still working towards full capacity following illness last month. Hearts intend to sign a new striker before the transfer window closes so Ba-Sy will face more competition for the striker role.
Wrancken explained today that the 25-year-old is still adjusting to Scottish football and needs some more time. “He has to adapt, of course. He comes from third tier in France,” said the manager. “It’s a totally different style of play so he has to adapt. The responsibility is also with him. We try to help him in that. I talked to him a few times because he got an early yellow card [against United]. I talked a few times with him so that he is smart. He is not going for risky situations to get this second yellow card.
“Maybe when you feel the crowd is on your back, and you want to make up for something, it's easy to take a second yellow. We didn't want that to happen. I talked to him a few times. In the second half we did better, also in energy. We talked about it half-time. He has to learn from it. He has to go and put it all in there - every minute he can play.”
Ba-Sy’s compatriot, Tom Renaud, is also adapting to a new way of life in Edinburgh. He produced a dominant midfield performance on Sunday and scored a stunning opening goal from almost 30 yards. The pair are edging towards full fitness. “It's the whole squad. We discussed the short preparation a few times. You cannot make up for this period. You have to cope with it until the possibility is there to get extra volume,” admitted Vrancken.
“They are making their steps for sure. Tom did well on Sunday. Amazing goal. Hopefully he can get confidence out of that. They are all making their steps. Not only them. For example, Spitz [Blair Spittal]. He had cramps a few weeks before. Now he can play 90 minutes with a lot of intensity and a clear head in decision-making. We have to keep making those steps with everybody.
“Tom was suspended at Aberdeen [last week] from his yellow cards in France. He is also one who has adapted to Scottish football. I talked to him a lot in preparation. He said it himself, he was not used to this kind of football. I have to feel my players. You don't have to kill them directly or put them under a lot of pressure directly. When you bring these guys in, they feel they can cope with it and their feeling is good. It was a perfect moment on Sunday and he did well.”
Vrancken is still without defenders Malachi Fagan-Walcott and Stephen Kingsley for Thursday’s Europa League return match against Benfica. He is not putting an exact date on their returns. “It’s difficult to say. It's all going the right way. I cannot say it's next week or in a month or so. We have to see it week-by-week. It's not this week that they start or next week.”
Brazilian midfielder Ageu is still unable to participate in full training sessions but Vrancken hopes to see him back before the end of the month. He has not played since 15 February after a thigh injury requiring surgery ended last season prematurely for him. “For sure, we have to be careful with him and his history. Still, he is not at the point where he can take group sessions,” said Vrancken. “We hope at the end of the month. We are not focusing on that too much. The most important thing is that he makes his steps in his rehab so that we can leave the injury history behind.”
Hearts face a 6-1 deficit against Benfica and face a near-impossible task to overturn the scoreline at Tynecastle. “You cannot give presents because it's not a small team you're playing. You have to be strong there,” insisted Vrancken. “But again, we have to manage fitness. We'll see who's ready to play those games. We just have to try to have a good performance against a really, really strong European side - and also take a little bit of confidence to the next one.”