Zurich boss Franco Foda warns Hearts what to expect with tactical hint

FC Zurich boss Franco Foda insists his players will relish playing in front of a full house at Tynecastle and offered a hint about his team’s tactical approach.

Former Hearts defender Jose Goncalves, now Zurich’s technical team manager, has warned Froda about what to expect in Thursday’s Europa League play-off second leg in Edinburgh, but Froda insists his players will not be fazed by a big and noisy home support.

He said: “Jose has told us about the atmosphere at Tynecastle, so we’ll have to prepare for that, but this is exactly what we love about football and what everybody likes when the stadium is full enthusiasm and atmosphere is good, so we’re looking forward to playing there.”

The Swiss champions go into the second leg defending a 2-1 lead, with a place in the group stages of the Europa League up for grabs and the Europa Conference League lying in wait as a consolation for the losers.

FC Zurich Manager Franco Foda makes his point during the first leg against Hearts at Kybunpark. Picture: Mark Scates / SNS

Froda rested ten players in a 4-0 Swiss Cup win against third tier opponents on Sunday. His team have already been knocked out of the Champions League in the qualifying rounds and are bottom of the Swiss Super League after five games.

The former Austrian national team boss was satisfied with the outcome of the first leg and is well aware what is at stake.

Offering a hint about he will approach the second leg, Froda added: “We have a lot fast players and hopefully we can create some chances through counter attacks.

“The result is okay and now we have to show up in Scotland and try and make it to the Europa League group stages.”