Sturm Graz coach issues a message to Hearts with ‘Oh f***ing s***' comment

Fabio Ingolitsch stressed Hearts should not consider their Champions League tie against Sturm Graz dead despite Tuesday’s 4-0 defeat in Austria. The first leg played out in harrowing fashion for the Edinburgh club, but the Sturm head coach said he was impressed with many aspects of their play at the Liebenauer Stadium.

Ingolitsch saw his team leading 1-0 at half-time through captain Jon Gorenc Stankovic’s early header. Recent signing Jeyland Mitchell, Luca Weinhandl and Jurgen Heil all scored inside a devastating 14-minute period at the start of the second period as Hearts capitulated in the first leg of the second qualifying round. Realistically, the Tynecastle side are now staring at a drop in the Europa League third qualifying round, where they will play either St Gallen of Switzerland or Portuguese giants Benfica.

“Yes, it was a very good night for us. It's a fantastic result here, we didn't expect a score like this,” said Ingolitsch, who acknowledged Hearts started the game strongly. “To be honest, we were really good but we're not that good that we have to win with four goals in front of Hearts because, if we're very honest to ourselves, especially in the first half, we had many difficult parts of the game.

“In the first minutes I really recognised for myself: ‘Oh f***ing s***, the opponent is as good as I expected them in the video analysis.’ So we had the opener with the set-piece situation, and the momentum went a little bit to our side, and I think Hearts had more parts of the first half, but we had better and clearer chances.

“In the second half we adapted a little bit, we were more aggressive, we pressed higher, and then we came directly to the best side of our game - to have high winning balls and a very straight transition, and play with good energy, good dynamic. No-one could hold us back in this phase. If they had faced us, we would have won the game.

“I knew that Hearts would like to have possession, that they would like to control the game, and they went their way from the beginning. We had troubles with these things. That's why we were not surprised at anything, because they played like we expected, and maybe it sounds a little bit - I don't know the word in English, ‘silly’ or ‘awkward’ - because we won 4-0 but I think Hearts were really good.”

While many observers feel Hearts are heading for a Champions League exit, Ingolitsch disagreed with that assertion ahead of Tuesday’s second leg at Tynecastle. “No, the tie is not over,” he insisted. “It's like half-time in a game and, if we can score four goals at home then Hearts also can do this. I think it's a 50-50 duel. I think we have the same quality. Hearts are more technical, we are more energetic, but in the end it will be a very tough fight, especially in the stadium with this atmosphere. We are really looking forward and it's also very special for us. We hope that we can go over the line there.”

Sturm’s most influential player, the Georgian international midfielder Otar Kiteishvili, helped the Austrian’s increase the tempo as a half-time substitute. After recovering from a hip injury, he could play from the start in Edinburgh. “It was very important for us, for sure,” said Ingolitsch. “He is our best player in the team, he's our goalscorer and also, when he joins the pitch, it's trust and self-confidence for the rest of the guys. Everyone feels more comfortable if he's on but we need to take care of him because he was out the whole pre-season with an injury.

“Maybe these 45 minutes were a little bit too high, so in the end phase of the second half we all saw that his fuel was already over, but he helped us a lot with his experience and his skills. It's not to speak about any single player, it's just to speak about the team. I'm really proud of the result, but I'm more proud of the performance, and that they stood together in very difficult parts of the game.”