Wouter Vrancken complains at Hearts waste and subs lacking energy as he explains Claudio Braga substitution

Wouter Vrancken complained that Hearts wasted chances to bury Nordsjaelland following the 1-1 UEFA Conference League draw at Tynecastle Park. The head coach could not hide his disappointment watching Hearts fail to see out a victory and stressed that they should have struck a second goal to put the tie beyond the Danes.

Oisin McEntee’s first-half strike was cancelled out by Nordsjaelland substitute Nicklas Rojkjaer’s deflected equaliser on 86 minutes. That left Hearts players and supporters frustrated at full-time, knowing their team could and perhaps should have scored a second goal before the leveller. Hearts had 20 attempts at goal during the night, with seven on target, while Nordsjaelland had 11 with three on target.

“For sure, it’s disappointment,” admitted Vrancken after the opening Conference League tie. “We didn't take three points when you see the first 70 minutes. So we were really good. I’m really happy with the performance, actually, because in the first 70 minutes we were dominant on the ball and also out of the ball. We were dominant, aggressive also. I'm really happy to see that we could do it against this side, because we know how strong they are. So it's a real disappointment to lose the goal.

“We know how to defend a goal, and it was a deflection so we were unlucky there. But again, I expect a bit more from subs when they come on also, to give the energy, to hold the ball or to hold off the pressure, and to show something more. They did already a few times before, and we didn't have to complain about this until now. Now, when you do a substitution, you expect more energy than there was at the moment, and it wasn't like that.

“I think it's also energy at the moment. They [Nordsjaelland] changed some positions, formation. They took more risks, of course. That for sure. But again, also there, in the first 70 minutes, we have to finish the game on this level. You create good occasions, good chances. Then you have to score more than one goal also, because the defence looked really good, actually, today. They were really fighting, and they did very good also in the construction and the build-up. I have to say that in a few moments, they were really good.”

Vrancken appeared to be unhappy with the subs who were on before Nordsjaelland scored - JJ Williams and Sabah Kerjota. “Yeah, the others came in [after the equaliser]. I think Kings [Stephen Kingsley] did his job, [Rogers] Mato did his job, and Jordi [Altena] in a position that he never played for a long time [midfield]. “I think Saba tried to do his thing and block his 1v1s and stuff like this. JJ did his thing, went in the duels, but I think we could expect a bit more from this replacement. But again, it's also for those guys a learning process and seeing that when the team needs you, you have to put yourself there.

“It’s not all of them, but you don't do substitutions just to make them. You want to see some extras at that moment or see some changes. It wasn't enough today, so we have to take it with us and learn from the guys who came in, and be ready for the next one. It's a good learning process for everybody here. That's what we said already during the week. We fought hard to compete on this stage. Like I said, we want to also show ourselves there. I have to say the team showed themselves today, that's for sure.”

Vrancken wanted his team to be brave and play higher up the field in the closing stages. “Yeah, but it's not always like you want it,” he acknowledged. “I think we did it really good in the first 70 minutes. Then you have a strong opponent who makes changes, who is going more all-or-nothing at moments. We like to see that we are a bit higher up the pitch and could play more under pressure.

“But again, for example, in midfield there's also a long game. Oisin was playing his first real minutes [after injury]. He also had some cramps, so that's why we had the same changes. And then we have to bring on a full-back, so we couldn't bring extra energy on the midfield to press them higher up, because it takes a lot of energy to do that.”

Hearts forward Claudio Braga was substituted during the second half. He had been booked and committed another couple of fouls so Vrancken did not want to risk a red card. “Yeah, and he pulled a shirt already two times. So we couldn't take the risk, because I knew that the next little fault was for sure a second goal,” said the manager.

Braga was unhappy when he left the field. “He said: ‘I could still keep my mind on the game.’ But at the end, after the game, he said: ‘Yeah, coach, you're right, you're right.” That's always right,” explained Vrancken.