Heart of Midlothian made to pay in Champions League exit - Braga, as the Scottish Premiership club suffered a 6-0 defeat against Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round. The defeat has left Heart of Midlothian facing a Europa League qualifier against Benfica or St Gallen.
What happened?
Heart of Midlothian were thumped 6-0 by Sturm Graz in the second qualifying round of the Champions League. The defeat has left the Scottish Premiership club facing a Europa League qualifier against Benfica or St Gallen.
Why it matters for Heart of Midlothian
The defeat is a significant setback for Heart of Midlothian, who were hoping to make a strong start to the season. The loss of key players Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin to Rangers has also been a major blow to the club.
What comes next?
Heart of Midlothian will now face a Europa League qualifier against Benfica or St Gallen. The club will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League exit and make a strong start to the season.
Currently sidelined: Stephen Kingsley, Alexandros Kyziridis. The club will be hoping to have them back soon to boost their chances in the Europa League qualifier.
Heart of Midlothian' struggles
Heart of Midlothian' struggles in the Champions League have been well-documented. The club has been plagued by injuries and a lack of consistency, which has made it difficult for them to compete with the bigger European clubs.
Braga's assessment
Braga, the Portuguese forward, has admitted that Heart of Midlothian are finding it difficult to adapt amid a huge summer of change. The club has seen a number of key players leave, including Lawrence Shankland and Cammy Devlin, and has also appointed a new head coach in Wouter Vrancken.
"It's a lot of change, a lot of new players, a completely different style of play from what it was last year," Braga said. "It's hard to deal with all that in a short period of time. We are paid to do this, so we should be able to do it."
Braga feels that Heart of Midlothian were ruthlessly "punished" for their mistakes by Sturm Graz. The club's mistakes were costly, and they were unable to capitalize on their chances.
Conclusion
Heart of Midlothian' Champions League exit is a significant setback for the club. The loss of key players and the appointment of a new head coach have made it difficult for the club to adapt to the new style of play. The club will now face a Europa League qualifier against Benfica or St Gallen, and will be looking to bounce back from their Champions League exit.
