Wouter Vrancken laments Hearts' preparation for the Champions League and provides injury update on two players
Belgian explains the 6-0 aggregate loss to Austrian side
Wouter Vrancken was left to lament Hearts’ preparation for the Champions League qualifiers following their 6-0 aggregate defeat by Sturm Graz. The Austrians won 2-0 at Tynecastle Park in the second leg of the second round qualifier, handing the hosts their biggest ever defeat in a two-legged European tie.
Second-half goals by Simon Seidl and Emran Soglo earned Sturm a comfortable victory in Edinburgh following their 4-0 first-leg triumph last week. Hearts flattered to deceive despite once again dominating possession. Vrancken was appointed head coach at Tynecastle at the end of June and stated that three weeks to prepare his players for such an important game was insufficient. Hearts have made nine new signings this summer, while Graz’s squad is both experienced and settled.
Vrancken noted similarities between both games but acknowledged that Sturm had coasted through the tie to meet Fenerbahce or Gornik Zabrze in the third qualifying round. Hearts will play either St Gallen or Benfica as they drop into the Europa League third qualifying round. “I think it's two times a bit the same,” said the Tynecastle manager. “First half hour, both games actually good, and then the first 15 minutes or so from second half. But then you see the physical part and you see maybe also the difference in six weeks of preparation and three weeks of preparation. You cannot hide it, especially not on that level.
“Until then it was good. In the first half, for example, we were good and we didn't reward ourselves. But maybe again, sharpness where you have to be fresh in front of the goal to finish it. I think it was not easy like the [Sturm] coach told me after the game. You see that the difference is made after one hour or so. I come back on what I said before - in the first leg we had this early goal and then we dominated the rest of the first half.
“Tonight was a little bit the same. We had a lot of energy, a lot of intensity, a lot of good intentions towards their goal and you didn't reward yourself and it's the same story.”
Vrancken stressed he is not unduly concerned about how Hearts will score goals with the Scottish Premiership starting this season. “Yeah, I'm not worried because again, the sharpness is an important thing and you have to have the physical volume, there's a base of where the intensity comes from. And when you have this then it's also more clear in your head, let's call it like this, to have this last step to finish it.”
He added that there is no embarrassment for Scottish football in Hearts’ loss to the Austrians. Sturm have played league-stage football in Europe in each of the last four season. “We play also against a side who is comfortable in group stages in Europe,” said Vrancken. “So for sure, it's not an easy game there and like I said, three weeks against six weeks against this experienced team, it's a lot of difference and then you need all the details to follow your way.
“The more minutes you get, I think also then the better it is for your physical condition also. But again, we cannot wait on the physical condition to be top before we get the results. When I see the first half an hour, for example, at both games actually, and the first 15 minutes of both games, then I'm sure that we can also have results.”
Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley and winger Alexandros Kyziridis were both taken off injured during the match. Kingsley appeared to tweak his hamstring. “I think Kyziridis was a cramp. With Kings, we have to see, because he has also the history, so we have to be careful with this,” said Vrancken.
Winger Calvin Miller played wide on the right for Hearts on the night - as he did in the first leg - although Vrancken will also use him on the left as time progresses. He thrived there for former club Falkirk. “For sure, he can do both,” said Vrancken. “He has also a lot of freedom there, so I maybe want him to get more of this freedom. But again, as you see also with him, that he is going, he was really good. He was going with a lot of energy in the first half an hour. You saw also, same with the team, the drop of physical readiness.”