Willie Miller crowns Hearts as title contender for four reasons as Aberdeen icon makes 'financial clout' claim
Hearts travel to Pittodrie this weekend as they take on Aberdeen in the Premiership.
Willie Miller has four reasons for why he feels Hearts can sustain their Premiership title charge into the winter.
Focus is now on domestic football until the spring of next year after November’s international break, with the Jambos’ charge at the top of the league a major talking point. Derek McInnes’ men sit seven points clear in first place and face his former side, Aberdeen, at Pittodrie on Sunday.
Dons icon Miller was the leader of the last side who brought Scotland’s top prize outside of Glasgow, Hearts’ weekend rivals, back in the mid-80s. Challenges like Aberdeen’s last term under Jimmy Thelin have came and went but with Tony Bloom’s investment and McInnes at the helm, Miller sees no reason why their current trajectory can’t be maintained.
Can Hearts sustain title bid?
He told the Press and Journal: “If the Dons can overcome the high-flying Premiership table-toppers, it will send a very strong message. Hearts can be considered as genuine title-contenders due to their sensational start to the campaign, squad quality, financial clout and the experience of manager Derek McInnes.
“You also have to factor in the fact Celtic and Rangers are both in disarray. So a title challenge, and potential win, is a distinct possibility for Hearts. The match against Hearts at Pittodrie will show exactly where Aberdeen are now under Thelin. Ahead of the opening game of the season against Hearts at Tynecastle, I did pose the question as to whether or not Aberdeen were ready for the challenge.
“They certainly weren’t as it was too early and not enough work had been done with the recruitment side and gelling of the team. Aberdeen were defeated quite easily 2-0 in their opener in Edinburgh. I was the last captain to lift a league title trophy with a club outwith Celtic and Rangers when Aberdeen triumphed in the 1985-96 season.
Who is new Aberdeen sporting director?
“It takes something special to win a league title. Winning our first league title in 1980 was the turning point for us and gave us the belief anything was possible. After that we went on to lift two European trophies, two more league titles and Scottish Cups came one after the other. It is incredible we were the last team outside the Old Firm to win the league title. There is still a long way to go in the season, but you have to give Hearts the respect that they can be possible title winners.”
Meanwhile, ahead of the game, Aberdeen have officially unveiled Lutz Pfannenstiel as their new sporting director. He said: “It’s great to finally be here. There was a bit of waiting time with the VISA and everything. I was here before looking at the club, getting to know the people earlier on before the decision was made, so it’s great to finally start. It’s a new chapter.
“I’m a football romantic (when asked why he chose to join Aberdeen). Looking back at my youth, I was a big fan of Jim Leighton, I really liked him. I always had Aberdeen somewhere on my radar and having also played against David Beckham, having played against Man United, being very good friends with Phil Neville, I think the Sir Alex connection was always something which is connected to Aberdeen and I think probably everybody you ask about Aberdeen will say that anyway.”