Thun predict 'Scottish blood' in Switzerland as they reveal Hearts dangers
Gian-Luca Privitelli spoke at the Visana Stadion ahead of Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie
FC Thun are concerned about Hearts’ attacking prowess for Thursday’s UEFA Conference League tie in Switzerland. Head coach Gian-Luca Privitelli outlined wingers and strikers as the principal dangers to his side, adding that he expects Hearts to show their “Scottish blood” at the Visana Stadion.
More than 1,000 Hearts fans will attend the match but Thun management are confident they can handle the atmosphere after hosting boisterous fans from Croatian clubs Hajduk Split and Dinamo Zagreb already this season. Privitelli needs a result against the Tynecastle side if Swiss champions Thun are to have a chance of reaching the Conference League knockout phase. They are currently pointless in the table after losing 1-0 at Dutch club Twente and 1-0 at home to Hajduk, while Hearts have one point after drawing with Nordsjaelland 1-1 and losing 2-0 at Trabzonspor.
When asked who Hearts’ dangermen could be for his team on Thursday, Privitelli hinted that Claudio Braga, Josh McPake and Sabah Kerjota are among the biggest threats. “We think the two wingers and the strikers are good players,” he said. “In midfield, they use the ball well. There are four or five players we studied a bit more, but it's about the whole team and the style. We are ready with our style to bring a good challenge.
“It's going to be a very tough game. I have the impression that our opponents are a very good, modern-style team with very good moves. They have excellent wingers and strikers. They play a good pressing game and they are very intense in the duels. In a nutshell, they really show their Scottish blood, so it's going to be a challenge.”
Thun have midfielder Fabio Saiz injured alongside defenders Genis Montolio and Mats Seiler. Another defender, Louis Passavant, is an injury doubt. That list pales in comparison to Hearts, who have 10 first-team players sidelined. “Knowing Hearts have more injured players doesn't change our gameplan,” said Privitelli. “You also have injured players but, on our side, it's not a big change. We need to focus on our strengths and we won't change our gameplan.
“We saw Hearts games against Hibs, Rangers and Trabzonspor. We saw all the games. A few new players will come in and we won't know them so much because there will be some players with not a lot of minutes. Not all the games were the same but we prepared from this.
“Every game is a must-win game, whether it is the league or the Conference League. That's how it is but we focus on our performance. We did well in the last two games and we are looking forward. We want to get three points here at home to help us in the Conference League.”
On the attendance of Hearts supporters, Privitelli was unfazed. He recalled July’s Champions League qualifier against Dinamo and last month’s match with Split. “We had a home game against Hajduk so we were good to play at home against almost half of the stadium. There will be less fans than Hajduk and Dinamo Zagreb so we will be ready. That's no problem,” he stated.
Captain Marco Burki is keen to record a clean sheet despite both teams losing goals this season. “I'm a central defender so I want to keep zero goals,” he smiled. “We have to improve in this part. We did not bad in two Conference League games so we need to keep that going. We can score so the most important is a clean sheet.
“We saw some images on how they are going to play and the style and what they try to do. We are going to bring our game on the pitch and we will see who has the better gameplan or mentality. We know they have qualities, this is an international game but we are in the Conference League and want to win the game. We don't play to be here, we play to win.”