Rogers Mato and a Hearts confidence boost giving him 'smash everyone' mindset as game of patience plays out
The Hearts star has shown his strengths when called upon for the Jambos this season.
Rogers Mato has thanked Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken for making him a happier player at Tynecastle - and providing him with confidence to ‘smash everyone.’
The Ugandan international signed from FK Vardar in the winter transfer window but chances were limited to three appearances and just 14 minutes under Derek McInnes. His successor in the Jambos dugout, Vrancken, has fielded him six times this term with two goals and an assist notched by the rapid 22-year-old.
Talks between gaffer and player have been held with Mato thankful for the confidence provided to him by his Belgian head coach. Vrancken’s style is attack-heavy and Mato feels Hearts fans will now see more of him in a team that suits his style.
Rogers Mato on form at Hearts
He said: "He gives you confidence to be yourself. If you're yourself, you have that confidence to go on the pitch and do everything, smash everyone. I think it probably suits my game a little more, yes.
“If you have someone who trusts in you, no matter what the situation, no matter how many mistakes you make, he will definitely push you again and he gives you the more time. I think that is probably one of the biggest things for a footballer, to have someone who trusts in him."
“Someone to say ‘go on.’ Because no matter how many mistakes you make, he needs you to leave those emotions. You don't have to be emotional. He's always pushing us, and if we make a mistake, to go for it again. You have to be better for yourself every time. I think he's always pushing us, no matter how many mistakes we make. He's always pushing us to do more."
Mato’s start and goal during a 3-0 Premier Sports Cup quarter-final win over Stenhousemuir pointed to his pace and finishing ability. He’s had to be patient for chances amid good form out wide from the likes of Josh McPake, Calvin Miller and Sabah Kerjota, but it’s a game he’s willing to play.
Wouter Vrancken on Rogers Mato
He explained: "It's always the patience. You have to be patient to wait for your moment. And I think, yeah, it's always about patience, but it's difficult, you know, patience. It's difficult to be patient. I'm looking at each game at a time. Every game that we face, we're going 100% because you don't know what's coming in. We have to give our best each and every game, each and every minute."
Mato now feels more settled in Scotland after transitioning from life in North Macedonia. He doesn’t spend lots of time out and about when he’s away from training or matchdays at Hearts but he feels ready to give his best when called upon.
He added: "I'm not the person who's always going out. I'm a person who's always indoor from training. Go home, do some extra training, go watch a movie, but life is good right now because now I'm used to the weather, the food, the people. I think it's better now. I'm used to it. Yes, I'm happier than before, than last time, because having some minutes, some goals. What else could I say? I am just grateful for every minute and every chance I get. I need to be patient and wait more minutes to come."
Vrancken spoke recently of the improvements Mato can still make to his game. He said prior to the international break with Hearts next in action on October 10 against St Mirren: “Rogers is really, really fast! I'm also happy to see that he has his moment, he scored his goal, because Rogers is just a really good guy. He wants to do good. From the beginning, he's really coachable, he wants to get the feedback, he wants to know in situations what to have to do when he doubts. He's also a guy who overthinks then, who's always thinking in the game, should I do this, should I do that, they ask me this.
”This overthinking he has to get rid of, and this is coming by time, and you see him progressing there, and I'm happy to see that he feels good, and that he took his moments. Not only in possession, also out of possession. In the second half they started targeting long balls to his zone, his area, but he’s also there in the duels, in the aerial duels, he won those moments. I’m really happy for him, because the more players we can count on, the better.”